Bangkok: 3 Chinese sought in heist of rare 10mil baht Montblanc watch

[webfact]

CRIME
Three Chinese sought in heist of rare Mont Blanc watch
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Three Chinese suspects have left the country after allegedly stealing a Mont Blanc wristwatch worth over Bt10 million from a luxury shopping mall in the heart of Bangkok, Immigration Police Bureau chief Lt-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said yesterday.

The stolen item is the Villeret Bi-Cylindrique Tourbillon Model Number 106494. Its price tag is very high partly because there are only eight such timepieces in the world, and just one in Thailand.

"Their flight landed in Thailand very early on April 15 and they flew out of the country at 7.30pm on the same day," Panu said.

Security guards at Gaysorn Plaza told police at 3.15pm on Tuesday that three men, who looked Chinese, had stolen an expensive wristwatch from the Mont Blanc boutique.

"They should be in their 40s or 50s. They spoke Chinese," a sales assistant said.

Based on closed-circuit TV images, the suspects have been identified as Fajun He, Shaohua Ye and Zhenzu Wu.

"We will coordinate with the Chinese Embassy in requesting that these suspects are sent back to Thailand," Panu said.

Panu said the Immigration Bureau had blacklisted the men and police were in the process of obtaining arrest warrants.


-- The Nation 2014-04-18

[JeremyBowskill]

So you blacklist them but want them back? Quite how does that work? All this before actually being found guilty of anything.

[Tokay]

Looked Chinese, spoke Chinese... must be some of those quality Chinese tourists I keep hearing about.

[Kimagure]

How did they identify the suspects just from the security footage? Does the immigration department have photos of all the tourists who come to Thailand, or what?

I'm not being skeptical, I'm just honestly curious how that works.

[Yunla]

If caught they will get more than a slap on the wrist, they will get time.

[JoeThePoster]

Its price tag is very high partly because there are only eight such timepieces in the world, and just one in Thailand.

And 10 million copies in China.

[rhythmworx]

A 10 million baht watch heist by a chinaman wearing women's shoes.

Dorothy out of the Wizard of Oz would be jealous.

[eeeya]

Probably bought it legitimate but the cashier stuffed up the transaction and now trying to get the watch back.

[ChrisY1]

How did they identify the suspects just from the security footage? Does the immigration department have photos of all the tourists who come to Thailand, or what?

I'm not being skeptical, I'm just honestly curious how that works.

Don't know the last time you entered the Kingdom, but Immigration takes a photo of every person entering and leaving Thailand

[JoeThePoster]

Look there's even a arrow on the floor conveniently pointing to the nearest getaway taxi.

[davejonesbkk]

how the heck did they actually steal it? Arent these kind of watches kept locked up in the cabinets and only taken out when staff allow it?

[ezzra]

Som Nam Na, they deserve to lose that watch, as only dummkopf <deleted> of a sale's person

will take of his/her eyes from such a valuable piece even for a second knowing full well that

this countryis full of thieves and scammers from all parts of the world...

[noitom]

Impressive heist that they were able to pull this off and get on a plane and out of Thailand. What a breakdown in Thai security at Gaysorn. Should be a good Hollywood thriller.

[rhythmworx]

How did they identify the suspects just from the security footage? Does the immigration department have photos of all the tourists who come to Thailand, or what?

I'm not being skeptical, I'm just honestly curious how that works.

Yes. I believe that's what the yellow line and camera is for at arrivals.

[umbanda]

Very fishy "robbery"......People working in this store were too incompetent to show and sell a $300,000 watch ...(hard to believe)....or..... this was an inside job.....(more probable)....and very well planned.

[lee b]

Very fishy "robbery"......People working in this store were too incompetent to show and sell a $300,000 watch ...(hard to believe)....or..... this was an inside job.....(more probable)....and very well planned.

Nar I belive they would show it, not caring about the price, only thinking of how much they would receive on commission if it was sold....

[ginjag]

If caught they will get more than a slap on the wrist, they will get time.

Better watch it in future,and check their Movements.

[Mentors]

Gaysorn. When you walk in take a deep breath of mixed perfumes in the air. Horrible

[Songhua]

If caught they will get more than a slap on the wrist, they will get time.

Better watch it in future,and check their Movements.

On the face of it the BiB have it in hand.

[alfalfa19]

The shop owner should cheer up. Chances are it was a fake, and only worth 1000 baht.

[ginjag]

If caught they will get more than a slap on the wrist, they will get time.

Better watch it in future,and check their Movements.

On the face of it the BiB have it in hand.

They were SWISSLED, but wit a TICK we have to HAND it to them for it was a MASTERPIECE crime and didn't have to CLOCK on to do the job, I doubt they were Chinese, one of them looks like BIG BEN from London he only wanted the watch on STRAP for a while.

Not BALANCED this story -just a WIND UP. a JEWEL really.

[soalbundy]

How time flies.

[JoeThePoster]

the suspects have been identified as Fajun He, Shaohua Ye and Zhenzu Wu.

No mention of their accomplices - Sum Ting Wong, Ho Lee Fuk, & Thai-Chinese Wei Tawatch ?

[Sydebolle]

Well, the watch is insured and DKSH will not fold up and close its operation in Thailand.
In general - such watches are usually shown at private viewing or in the brand's own show room and never in a shop-in-shop. An own show room provides privacy for the buyers and security for the seller as you need to release the door opener on the way in as well as out. The query on the names and how they were identified so fast remains open.

Montblanc though must be laughing on its way to the bank. Not that I accuse Montblanc or DKSH on any wrong doing but lets face it. An almost unsellable talking piece conveniently turned into instant cash and the talking piece went viral talking ;-)
Swell, indeed!

[Torrens54]

Don't Worry!

Within a couple of months the store will be able to buy loads of these watches at a Bargain Price off most street corners.

[looping]

If only the police could get their hands on that watch... They could buy a copy and return that instead.

But I'm sure that hasn't even crossed their minds

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Lupatria]

With a watch like this you are automatically qualified for VIP- and quality tourist status in LOS

[lucjoker]

It was in a high end shop ,they sell also sunglasses from "Lay Ban "

[jalansanitwong]

Who in their right state of mind would buy an expensive watch in Thailand ? Just about everything sold here is either a fake or shonky workmanship.

They even have fake Benz,Ferrari and Lamborghini's here. All with original decals.

It was probably a fake watch. A 10 million baht watch handed around by staff to Chinese budget tourists.? Yeah right.

Insurance scam?

[Choonpon]

The authorities sure are fast this time to identify the suspects and even blacklist them. They must have received heavy pressure from the shop owner to act fast or else the case file will just pile up at a corner.