Police Arrest Three Foreigners For Bt30mn Jewelry Heist In Phuket

[webfact]

Police arrest three foreigners for B30mn jewelry heist

Phuket Gazette

Jewelry merchant Thongsak Chintakanroek, who was robbed of 30 million baht in precious jewelry in Phuket yesterday, said he had faith the police would catch the thieves 'soon'. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Police have arrested four people in connection with theft of 30 million baht of jewelry in Phuket yesterday morning while the were heading for the Malaysian border after.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the suspects were arrested at by Trang Highway Police officers at a checkpoint in Sikao District, in Trang province.

The three switched getaway cars after fleeing the scene in a Toyota Vios rented in Phuket, Maj Gen Chonasit said.

“After dumping their initial getaway car in Patong, the three headed off-island in a Toyota Fortuner they also rented in Phuket,” he said.

But that didn’t fool the Phuket investigators. CCTV footage showing the thieves leaving the scene gave away the Toyota Vios license plate, leading police on a paper trail to discover the rented Fortuner and its license plate registration.

“We contacted all agencies – including Immigration, Tourist Police and Highways Police – and asked them to keep an eye out for the rented Fortuner,” Maj Gen Chonasit said.

At 7pm yesterday, Highway Police Station 2 Division 7 led by Col Jakkrapan Janwana stopped the Fortuner and asked to search the car.

A search by officers discovered the stolen jewelry, including gold, diamonds and other precious gems, in two separate bags inside the car.

Police have arrested at least four people travelling inside the vehicle: one Russian man, two Malaysian women and one Thai man.

Police have yet to name the suspects arrested.

However, police have also reported that one of the Malaysian women escaped custody.

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

Phuket Police are now escorting the suspects back to Phuket.

A press conference is expected to be held later today.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle14969.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-05-15

Related topic:

Phuket Police Launch Manhunt For Three Foreigners In Bt30M Jewelry Heist

http://www.thaivisa....-jewelry-heist/

[Payboy]

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

It's always the large one isn't it?

Edited May 15, 2012 by Payboy

[GilesPeach]

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

It's always the large one isn't it?

That's a bit of egg on the face of the local constabulary.... any more and it will be an omlette.

Still, the apprehension of this lot appears to have involved some real police work. I am impressed. The foreign criminals don't appear to be quite as retarded as the usual pattaya/phuket suspects either.

[Suradit69]

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

It's always the large one isn't it?

And now she's the large one "at large."

Edited May 15, 2012 by Suradit69

[steelepulse]

If they had planned it out, they would have a different getaway car waiting after they got out of Phuket province. Good news for the hapless jeweler though.

[MILT]

When this story first broke I read a great number posters jumping to conclusions based on nothing that this was an insurance scam. Where are all those posters now. It is a sad statement how ridiculous and embarrassing the farangs on this forum really are.

[NowImEasy]

Will we see any apologies from yesterday's posters who "knew it was a scam"?

[Siriam]

So they are not Canadians ... very confusing and weird case!

[peterdk]

Here I am thinking its 3 white men having pulled this off.

Certainly headline suggests foreigners only.

So with amazement I read, that its really only 1 foreigner ( Russian male ) 1 Thai man and then 2 Malay women.

The women hardly look "foreign" comparing with Europeans. And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

So howcome, 2 days in a row, they mention 3 foreigners ?

Fact now dictates 3 Asian and 1 falang ( foreigner )

Better headline "3 Asians arrested for Bt30Mn jewelry heist" ??

And how would they know already yesterday, that the 2 women was not Thai, just by cc footage ?

This truly is miracle Thailand :-)

[stevenl]

Here I am thinking its 3 white men having pulled this off.

Certainly headline suggests foreigners only.

So with amazement I read, that its really only 1 foreigner ( Russian male ) 1 Thai man and then 2 Malay women.

The women hardly look "foreign" comparing with Europeans. And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

So howcome, 2 days in a row, they mention 3 foreigners ?

Fact now dictates 3 Asian and 1 falang ( foreigner )

Better headline "3 Asians arrested for Bt30Mn jewelry heist" ??

And how would they know already yesterday, that the 2 women was not Thai, just by cc footage ?

This truly is miracle Thailand :-)

First you say '1 foreigner' and then you say '1 falang (foreigner)'. You also mentioned 2 Malay women,

Since when are only farang foreigners? The headline is completely correct.

Edited May 15, 2012 by stevenl

[moe666]

I guess they will be known as the rent-a-car gang. Are they related to the speed boat gang who ran out of gas

[Payboy]

We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

Hope she wasn't carrying 29.9m worth of the stolen goods.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Payboy

[ang]

Clever people. Make a robbery like that in rented cars.

[steven100]

The suspects can't be real bright .... wouldn't you realise the police would be looking for the rental car at every road checkpoint ?

Sounds like gangsters watched to much of keystone cops ...

Anyway , there still one suspect ' still at large '

I think there's more to this episode regarding the car parked at the supercentre and having the jewelry sitting in the back ... we haven't been told the full story here in my opinion.

Edited May 15, 2012 by steven100

[laurentbkk]

Police arrest 3 foreigners ............ and 1 Thai man apparently , why this title about foreigners and nothing about the Thai ? The foreigners are already responsible of all problems in Thailand , heavy rain , too much sunshine , tsunami, heavy floods in Bangkok ...... so I guess its a better title to avoid talking Thai , of course Thais never kill anyone , never robe banks or gold shop ....

[DiamondKing]

Well with my mastermind criminal mind I might of split up, chopped up the loot and arranged to meet in Malasia or wherever they made it a bit easy for the cops renting a car DUHHHHH they made the thai police look good for a change LOL

DK

[KhunVee]

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

It's always the large one isn't it?

Can't help it but "Comedy Capers" comes to mind,....

[biplanebluey]

Cant beat the old Hollywood tried and tested escape routes-----how long before the Police woke up????

[steven100]

I guess they will be known as the rent-a-car gang. Are they related to the speed boat gang who ran out of gas

maybe they attended the same school ...

[peterdk]

First you say '1 foreigner' and then you say '1 falang (foreigner)'. You also mentioned 2 Malay women,

Since when are only farang foreigners? The headline is completely correct.

Hello Mr nitpick ; And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

Didn't you read that sentence ?

How about cctv footage revealing 3 foreign men ( read article from yesterday ), that now really is 1 foreign male and 1 Thai man and 2 Asian women ?

I have asked around the office, 4 Thais all agreeing that a falang ( foreigner ) must have white skin, and is not Asian.

[bangkokbruce]

Seems ironic when you steal the case gets solved within a couple of days with good police work but when you murder it's rarely solved so fast...if ever. Wonder how many hands will be out for that jeweler when he gets his jewelry back...TIT

[Colabamumbai]

Probably rented the second vehicle from the same agency as the first car. Not to hard to track.

[pointoffew]

Professional amateurs.

[oevna]

However, police have also reported that one of the Malaysian women escaped custody.

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

You have got to be kidding me. They left her unattended in an area where she could flee? After all that otherwise good police work, no less!

[stevenl]

First you say '1 foreigner' and then you say '1 falang (foreigner)'. You also mentioned 2 Malay women,

Since when are only farang foreigners? The headline is completely correct.

Hello Mr nitpick ; And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

Didn't you read that sentence ?

How about cctv footage revealing 3 foreign men ( read article from yesterday ), that now really is 1 foreign male and 1 Thai man and 2 Asian women ?

I have asked around the office, 4 Thais all agreeing that a falang ( foreigner ) must have white skin, and is not Asian.

Agree with you, a farang has white skin. I am not contesting that at all, what I am contesting is your conclusion that the header is wrong. Even if only 1 farang is involved, it are still 3 foreigners.

Don't you see you're contradicting yourself here? First you say: farang has to be white skinned, than you say: 1 foreign male, 1 Thai man and 2 asian women, so header is wrong, only 1 foreigner involved.

Sorry, not only farang are foreigners.

So don't forget to ask in the office, if 1 Russian man, 2 Malay women and 1 Thai man are arrested, how many foreigners have been arrested?

Edited May 15, 2012 by stevenl

[tonititan]

Hello Mr nitpick ; And usually the concensus in Thailand is, that you got to have white skin, before labelled falang.

Didn't you read that sentence ?

How about cctv footage revealing 3 foreign men ( read article from yesterday ), that now really is 1 foreign male and 1 Thai man and 2 Asian women ?

I have asked around the office, 4 Thais all agreeing that a falang ( foreigner ) must have white skin, and is not Asian.

Didn't you read the article? It says FOREIGNERS, not falang. Anyone who is not Thai is a foreigner in Thailand - Europeans, North Americans, Africans, and yes, Asians.

YOU are the one saying that foreigner = falang, which is simply not true. Your coworkers might agree that a "falang" has white skin, but that's not the same as a foreigner. Those two words are not completely interchangeable.

The 2 women from Malaysia are foreigners, because they are not from Thailand. It's not that complicated.

[crazykopite]

When this story first broke I read a great number posters jumping to conclusions based on nothing that this was an insurance scam. Where are all those posters now. It is a sad statement how ridiculous and embarrassing the farangs on this forum really are.

We will not know if it is an insurance scam until the true value of the stolen goods is verified it seems it was indeed a well planned robbery but that does not stop the victim placing an unrealistic value on the stolen goods !!!!!!

[unanimosity]

“While the police officers were questioning the suspects, one of the Malaysian woman, the large one, asked to use the bathroom at the police station.

“But she ended up running away from the station. We are now searching for her,” Col Jakkrapan said.

It's always the large one isn't it?

That's a bit of egg on the face of the local constabulary.... any more and it will be an omlette.

Still, the apprehension of this lot appears to have involved some real police work. I am impressed. The foreign criminals don't appear to be quite as retarded as the usual pattaya/phuket suspects either.

Omelette ...

But, as for the foreign (sort of, at least one of them) criminals not being retarded, how smart is it to escape a crime scene with authentic plates on the car, a rental car at that, and then change to another rental car that was easily traced to the first rental no doubt by the rental documentation (name, credit card, whatever), and then travel toward the nearest border in the second rental with authentic plates and all the perps in one vehicle? And how smart was it for them to check-in at the hotel where the victim was staying and then allow themselves, three of them anyway, to be seen together at the crime scene...how many does it take to grab a suitcase from a car, and get into another car?

Good police work? How about routine police work. These perps couldn't have made it any easier for the police.

This will have to go down as one of those stupidest criminals clips for renting not one car but two and driving them with authentic license plates. Must be the first time in history.

Good thing the mastermind of this caper didn't go to medical school or a malpractice insurance carrier would have gone out of business paying claims.

Edited May 15, 2012 by unanimosity

[bob4you]

I am not one of the ones who said "insurance scam". It was too obvious that no insurance company would pay off of situation like this one. I do wonder how the thieves knew to target this car and briefcase? Was it an inside job in any way?

[animatic]

Perplexingly brainless.

Then again, if the had real brains they would not need to do this crime.