Cctv Captures Unidentified Man Using Missing American's Bank Card In Phuket

[webfact]

CCTV captures unidentified man using missing American's bank card in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Mrs Bean studies CCTV footage of a man on a motorbike similar to the one used by her missing son. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Photographic evidence from the police has been passed on to Brett's father in hopes that he will be able to positively identify the man. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The mother of missing American Brett Bean was unable to confirm if images captured by CCTV cameras in Patong and Chalong show her son making ATM transactions after his disappearance in Phuket.

Lynne Bean, who posted a 50,000 baht reward to help find her son was asked to visit Karon Police Station today to try to identify a man who used her son’s ATM card on two occasions.

“We called in Mrs Bean to identify a man caught on CCTV using an ATM in front of a 7-eleven convenience store near Mae Ubon Market in Patong, and a second ATM at the Ha Yaek Chalong branch of the Siam Commercial Bank (SCB),” Karon Police inspector Chana Suttimard told the Phuket Gazette.

Mrs Bean arrived at the station at about 1pm and spent about an hour reviewing video footage and photographs provided by the police.

Lt Col Chana said that Mrs Bean was unsure whether the man caught on the CCTV film was her son or not.

“She said that while the man looks like her son, she could not positively confirm it, as the man in the film wore a motorbike helmet during the transactions,” the police officer said.

Mrs Bean asked police to allow her to send the files to her husband, Wayne, so he could attempt identification.

Col Chana revealed that Brett Bean’s SCB card was used to withdraw 2,000 baht in Patong on November 27. It was used again on December 5, when 1,500 baht was withdrawn from the ATM in Chalong.

“On both occasions the man wore a motorbike helmet with the visor up while making the transactions. After using the ATM in Patong, he entered the 7-eleven but kept his helmet on.

The unidentified man was caught on camera riding a motorbike that resembled the description of Brett Bean’s 125cc Honda. However, CCTV did not capture the number on the plate, Col Chana said.

“We must now wait to see if Mr Brett’s parents can confirm whether or not it is him in the CCTV. In the meantime we will continue to pursue other avenues of inquiry,” he added.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...uket-19694.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-12-12

[laurentbkk]

would it be also a possibility that this American guy doesnt want to be found by his family ?

[IMA_FARANG]

I was going to point out yesterday a clue in the original article about him being missing ,,, but then I decided not to.

Anyway in the original article it said his motorcycle helmet and his computer were missing but NOT missing was his motorcycle license, his bank passbook, his passport, and his motorcycle registration papers.

The fact that he supposedly went out riding his bike without his registration papers and his driver's license seemed strange to me yesterday.

The computer could have been sold for cash and the ATM card could be useful.... but the rest of those documents ... are just I.D. stuff.

Not exactly sure what that means, but I don't think it is good news.

[steelepulse]

Don't most atm machines have a camera that captures your face? With the visor up the atm camera should have a clear shot of the person withdrawing the money.

>>On both occasions the man wore a motorbike helmet with the visor up while making the transactions.

[parallaxtech]

A friend of mine was kidnapped for several days while the kidnappers used his atm cards. However, I would think that they would try to max out the cards daily if that were the case. I hope for parents and friends that this is the case here.

[DiamondKing]

Sounds to me like it probably is her son else why would the guy take just 2000 and then 1500 baht sounds like a normal ATM transaction nothing suspicious about those other than his Mom thinks he is missing

[DoctorG]

The police could request (if they were so inclined) to put a stop to his ATM transfers.

[p_brownstone]

The police could request (if they were so inclined) to put a stop to his ATM transfers.

It makes far more sense to leave the Card active, in the hope that whoever is using it eventually does so at an ATM which has an effective Video Camera or in an area where such Cameras are operating.

This is apparently the only clue the Police have to work on.

Patrick

[schondie]

As someone has already mentioned, maybe he doesn't want any contact with his parents. A little family argument possibly and he's cut them off. Two low ATM withdrawals seem to say it's his cash he's withdrawing.

Will he turn up safe and sound? Most probably after the bank cancels his ATM card.

[DoctorG]

The police could request (if they were so inclined) to put a stop to his ATM transfers.

It makes far more sense to leave the Card active, in the hope that whoever is using it eventually does so at an ATM which has an effective Video Camera or in an area where such Cameras are operating.

This is apparently the only clue the Police have to work on.

Patrick

By the time they find an effective camera, the account will be cleaned out (if it is not him).

If it is the missing guy, then the lack of funds will force him back to his home, or, at the very least, to contact the police so they can stop wasting resources looking for him.

[Cheops]

The amounts taken make you think that it was not a thief of his ATM card.

Otherwise the account would be cleaned out as soon as possible or at least taken larger sums of money at once, unless it's a really clever thief, but somehow I doubt that.

Of course police should contact the banks to check the cam-footage in the ATM's!

[DekDaeng]

Chances that his build matches that of a Thai are unlikely - looks like a skinny Thai to me.

[AntMan1]

If she reads online forums such as this why not contact his email provider or facebook if he has such an account to see if he has logged in since going missing, if theyre checking his ban accounts surely this is possible.

IMHO that looks like a 6ft ish skinny person, ie his build.

[fasteddie]

Don't most atm machines have a camera that captures your face? With the visor up the atm camera should have a clear shot of the person withdrawing the money.

>>On both occasions the man wore a motorbike helmet with the visor up while making the transactions.

No.