Painter disguised as police officer allegedly robs 11 cabbies

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Yesterday, Don Mueang police announced the arrest of a 40-year-old painter, who was caught disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer and attempting to steal money from a taxi driver.

Sithichai Nonthalak was nabbed at Don Mueang Airport on Vibhavadi Rungsit Road on Jan 15. The capture followed 11 police reports filed by taxi drivers who had been cheated by Sithichai after providing him services. Sithichai made away with more than THB40,000 in cash over the last three months.

Police said that Sithichai deliberately called [more...]

Full story: http://www.coconutsb...obs-11-cabbies/

-- COCONUTS Bangkok 2013-01-17

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Coconuts News at its best!

How about he was impersonating a police officer...

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by Morakot

The audacity of an outsider bringing the good name of the BIB into disrepute.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

wow someone stealing from Taxi drivers! makes a change from the reverse

Creative fraud ... and of course being police (in disguise) the taxi's felt right at home. But I have not had too many bad taxis in Thailand in more than a decade here and they work long hours for very little with very few drivers the actual owners of the taxis. Subdued sympathy towards them.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Thanks I hadn't noticed that. Maybe it pays better than we thought. Not sure I'd want to risk riding in it though not given the way some can drive in a clapped out Toyota.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Thanks I hadn't noticed that. Maybe it pays better than we thought. Not sure I'd want to risk riding in it though not given the way some can drive in a clapped out Toyota.

If you were the accused in the OP then it might be the perfect taxi seeing how it is a $200,000 vehicle.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/07/202000-porsche-taxi-cab-takes-bangkok.html

looking at that photo taxi drivers do very well in Thailand if they can afford cars like that to use as taxis.

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Coconuts News at its best!

How about he was impersonating a police officer...

Is that a crime here? I thought nearly all members of BIB were impersonating police officers.

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Coconuts News at its best!

How about he was impersonating a police officer...

Is that a crime here?

Probably not judging by the amount of people sporting some kind of police paraphernalia http://www.thaivisa....police-jackets/ ! But fraud and theft is definitely a crime. http://www.thailandl...ud-in-thailand/

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by Morakot

Pretending to be a cop, thats some serious time for a little cash.

cops are only upset because he was skimming their profits, poor buggers.

Amazing Thailand where painter's play police officers in their free time & Police Officers paint the town red in their free time.

An odd story. This guy actually convinced taxi drivers to give him short term loans. ????

Either ............

This guy is the silver tongued devil

Or..........

The average Thai is so terrified of the police they would instantly loan money to someone pretending to be the police.

Re: the taxi in the photo I'd enjoy promptly telling the guy to fnck off when he rolls his window down to ask where I'm going since you know he's going to say no to anyone going further than 2 blocks away

In a land of mirrors it must be wise to impersonate a person with impunity Billshot energy drinkdriver or a penniless moron like me,so forlorn that even street beggars don't accost one on the way to the club,I can no longer afford a weekend valet to deal with trades people so have taken the Russian Roulette option the Thai wife.

It gives every day a certain frisson ,at first I thought she was impersonating a normal person,we have now come to A Mexican stand off If I behave well,privileges flow,it is an ageles compromise

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by RubbaJohnny

How can you impersonate a plainclothes cop?

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Thanks I hadn't noticed that. Maybe it pays better than we thought. Not sure I'd want to risk riding in it though not given the way some can drive in a clapped out Toyota.

If you were the accused in the OP then it might be the perfect taxi seeing how it is a $200,000 vehicle.

http://carscoop.blog...es-bangkok.html

Thanks for that.

if he wasn't disguised, would they know he was a painter right off?

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Saw a police drama on TV, a detective was wearing a uniform, he said "yeah I'm a detective going undercover as a traffic cop"

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Coconuts News at its best!

How about he was impersonating a police officer...

Is that a crime here? I thought nearly all members of BIB were impersonating police officers.

That's mean !!!!!! But funny.....

disguised as a plainclothes law enforcement officer

Coconuts News at its best!

How about he was impersonating a police officer...

Is that a crime here?

Probably not judging by the amount of people sporting some kind of police paraphernalia http://www.thaivisa....police-jackets/ ! But fraud and theft is definitely a crime. http://www.thailandl...ud-in-thailand/

Unless the perp is married to you.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Good observation! It's a Porsche. If you do a "save as" - you will see the title of the .jpg samsung-porsche

He was "disguised" as a "plainclothes" officer! And what a haul! 40,000 baht in 3 months after a minimum of 11 victims , or co-conspirators. We really don't know the facts, but it seems for sure that we don't know them.Can you actually believe that Thai police force around Don Muang didn't nab this guy before 3 months and at least 11 hits on their own? The Thai police didn't "put the word out" on this sooner? They are either total inept idots or co-conspirators and these 11 reports all came in clustered together. Amazing that the newspaper would stand up to printing this story without shaking down the facts.

How can you impersonate a plainclothes cop?

By introducing yourself as a cop

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Hm your right its a Porsche 911 !!! no wonder they are being targeted as marks for cheating!

Where can I book that Porsche taxi????

How can you impersonate a plainclothes cop?

I do it every time I get dressed Maybe this is the new scam for tea money...Aha farang you are obviously impersonating a plainclothes policeman...that'll be 10,000 baht

Edited January 18, 201313 yr by Mudcrab

Oh dear, I've just realised I'm also 'disguised' as a plain clothes police officer!