Police tracked down and
arrested 4 members of the ‘Blue Dragon’ vehicle-theft gang.
Patcharapol Panrak
Four ex-convicts who formed the “Blue Dragon” gang after being
released are back behind bars, accused of burglarizing more than 100
homes, stealing cars and motorbikes and killing four dogs.
Thassanai Nuanim, 28; Somchai Kongkaew, 38; Chaivirat Somsa, 26; and
Ruangrith Ruankhumma, 32, were captured by Sattahip police following the
July 5 break-in at a house in Bang Saray’s Moo 9. The burglars allegedly
killed the dogs by feeding them friend chicken laced with weed killer,
but left the scene empty-handed.
Neighbors caught the license plate of a Mitsubishi Strada pickup truck
fleeing the scene and police chased the quartet to a rented room in
Taothan.
Police accused the gang members - all of whom had a picture of a dragon
tattooed on their chest - of committing car and motorbike thefts in
Sattahip, Bowin, Nongprue, Chonburi, and Maptaput, and Pluakdaeng. The
vehicles were sold for just a fraction of their worth, as low as 20,000
baht per car and 5,000 baht per motorbike, police said.
During the arrest, police seized three Strada pickups and eight stolen
motorbikes. Investigators also found a forgotten knife, can of Paraquat
weed killer and fingerprints at the scene of the latest crime.
Officials alleged the Blue Dragon gang was one of the most-prolific in
the area and that all four members had met in prison whilst serving time
for robbery, burglary and drugs.
