Wanted Phuket woman arrested for stealing 52 cars

[webfact]

Wanted Phuket woman arrested for stealing 52 cars
Phuket Gazette


Lt Col Sommai photographs Ms Sukanya after her arrest. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A woman wanted for car theft since 2012, with outstanding arrest warrants in every district of Phuket, was arrested yesterday in Cherng Talay after being recognized by police.

"Sukanya Chanthanarak, 40, had five arrest warrants in Cherng Talay alone. Her face was familiar to area police," said Lt Col Sommai Onkham of the Cherng Talay Police.

Ms Sukanya rented cars from rental agencies and never returned them, selling them instead or demanding money from the agencies to return them, explained Lt Col Sommai.

She has allegedly stolen 52 vehicles since 2012, he said. In 2012, police recovered 16 vehicles connected to Ms Sukanya that they believed were bound for sale in the Deep South or neighboring countries.

In addition to Cherng Talay, arrest warrants had been issued for her in Phuket City, Thalang, Chalong and Kathu, added Col Sommai.

“She has been previously arrested for gambling,” he noted.

After her arrest, several jubilant rental operators positively identified Ms Sukanya at the Cherng Talay Police Station, and presented officers with flowers.

“Ms Sukanya has accepted the theft charges in Cherng Talay,” Col Sommai said.

“It’s not clear yet whether the charges from the different stations will be put together and sent to court or whether she’ll be prosecuted separately,” said Cherng Talay Superintendent Paworn Pornpromma.

“Right now, we are questioning her about accomplices. We believe she could not have done all this alone," said Col Sommai.

One person police are searching for is Supaluck Krutmanee, 44, who served as guarantor when Ms Sukanya rented the vehicles.

Ms Sukanya developed a method for building trust with rental operators before she stole their merchandise, Col Sommai said.

“She would rent a car just for a day a few times, until the operators grew familiar with her. Then she would rent the vehicle for a month but never return it.”

Kwanjai Kaewsopa, a rental operator in Cherng Talay, said that Ms Sukanya asked her for money in exchange for returning a vehicle.

“She rented from my shop several times,” said Ms Kwanjai. “The last time, in 2012, she rented a Toyota Fortuner for 20,000 baht for a month. After 10 days, she called me and said that if I wanted the car back, I’d have to wire her 500,000 baht and that she’d leave the car at a shopping mall in Krabi.

“I didn’t send the money, but filed a complaint with the police. Ms Sukanya never got back to me.”

Rattana Woranut, a rental operator at Surin Beach, had a similar tale.

“Two years ago she rented from me. In the first two months, she was a very good customer, but in the third month she stole my vehicle,” Ms Rattana said. “It was brand new. I had to sell some of my assets to keep up the car payments every month.”

“I’m glad she was arrested, and I hope I get my car back.”

— Thawit Bilabdullar

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Wanted-Phuket-woman-arrested-stealing-52-cars/29345#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-05-05

[Costas2008]

I thought, this is a man's job.

How the world is changing........

[Cylon]

52 cars later, didnt take them long to catch her, assuming she used her Thai ID card or license.

[kurnell]

<deleted> do the police do all day?

[LivinginKata]

"Sukanya Chanthanarak, 40, had five arrest warrants in Cherng Talay alone. Her face was familiar to area police," said Lt Col Sommai Onkham of the Cherng Talay Police.

Yet the police could not catch her -- mmmm

52 cars later - incredible.

[deecee10]

"........After 10 days, she called me and said that if I wanted the car back, I’d have to wire her 500,000 baht and that she’d leave the car at a shopping mall in Krabi."

Why am I smiling at such an attempt at extortion?

[keestha]

She looks like the mom and pop store lady around the corner......oh well, turn it around, if you look like a crook you have no other choice than remaining honest.

[chiang mai]

It's great comedy is it not, one of the more outrageous stories I've ever read. Now you know why your car insurance is so costly and it has much more to do with the guy holding the camera than that lady.

[clockman]

Another record! to be proud of. They are too busy looking for people,with no work permit.

[thaicookingchef]

Police is so fast to resolves cases here...

[MMarlow]

<deleted> do the police do all day?

In this case they arrested a serial car thief, can't you read?

[MMarlow]

"Sukanya Chanthanarak, 40, had five arrest warrants in Cherng Talay alone. Her face was familiar to area police," said Lt Col Sommai Onkham of the Cherng Talay Police.

Yet the police could not catch her -- mmmm

52 cars later - incredible.

I think if you read the OP you'll find that they could.

[unanimosity]

They thought she was going to sell them to neighboring countries? That narrows it down since only one has left drive rules, Malaysia. Why didn't he just say so?

[penwithcris]

Unbelievable that someone could commit the same crime time after time without being caught by the police. The amount of money stolen is staggering if the value of each vehicle is taken into account

If this was a sophisticated crime being perpetrated by a clever gang of criminals throughout the country one might understand but this appears to be a localised crime committed by a single individual

I just don't believe it. There must be much more to this story. Others must have been involved and a number of official 'blind eyes' must have viewed the situation.

I guess no proper investigation will take place. This lady will be the only 'fall guy'. What happened to the hundreds of thousands of baht, maybe millions, the vehicles were sold for?

The thief doesn't look as though she's got two satangs to rub together

Perhaps she's been donating her ill gotten gains to the PDRC?

[stevenl]

Unbelievable that someone could commit the same crime time after time without being caught by the police. The amount of money stolen is staggering if the value of each vehicle is taken into account

If this was a sophisticated crime being perpetrated by a clever gang of criminals throughout the country one might understand but this appears to be a localised crime committed by a single individual

I just don't believe it. There must be much more to this story. Others must have been involved and a number of official 'blind eyes' must have viewed the situation.

I guess no proper investigation will take place. This lady will be the only 'fall guy'. What happened to the hundreds of thousands of baht, maybe millions, the vehicles were sold for?

The thief doesn't look as though she's got two satangs to rub together

Perhaps she's been donating her ill gotten gains to the PDRC?

You don't believe she gambled so must have given it to the PDRC?

[Payboy]

She's a big fan of Grand Theft Auto, I guess.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Payboy

[Blindside]

I thought, this is a man's job.

How the world is changing........

It's cheating.... she's supposed to use tools and circumvent alarm systems....

She's probably lucky one of them did not catch her... I rent from a taxi guy... for example.

[joshstiles]

Unbelievable that someone could commit the same crime time after time without being caught by the police. The amount of money stolen is staggering if the value of each vehicle is taken into account

If this was a sophisticated crime being perpetrated by a clever gang of criminals throughout the country one might understand but this appears to be a localised crime committed by a single individual

I just don't believe it. There must be much more to this story. Others must have been involved and a number of official 'blind eyes' must have viewed the situation.

I guess no proper investigation will take place. This lady will be the only 'fall guy'. What happened to the hundreds of thousands of baht, maybe millions, the vehicles were sold for?

The thief doesn't look as though she's got two satangs to rub together

Perhaps she's been donating her ill gotten gains to the PDRC?

"There must be much more to this story. Others must have been involved and a number of official 'blind eyes' must have viewed the situation."

....one of the police officials was involved.....he covered it up as long as he could.....you should see all the rosewood he is using to build his resort

[kinmaew]

Enterprising. Thai CEO quality here.

[Benmart]

I thought, this is a man's job.

How the world is changing........

Criminals come in all genders, races, religions and beliefs. She is just another example of the criminal element that lurks beneath the serene facade we live in.

[kurnell]

<deleted> do the police do all day?

In this case they arrested a serial car thief, can't you read?

Can you count? To 52?

[NamKangMan]

She obviously didn't leave her passport as collateral.