Police have arrested 3 of 5 men
charged with auto theft, armed robbery
and impersonating police.
Theerarat Suthathiwong
Pattaya police have arrested three men suspected of
impersonating officers in order to steal an SUV in Nakhon Sawan.
Investigators announced the arrest of Thonasak Kaewsri, 33;
Ekarin Bunrod, 29; and Wasan Phanthacharoen, 23, May 24. An additional two
suspects remain at large.
The arrest came after Pattaya police were alerted to someone
trying to sell a stolen car. Using an undercover informant, police arranged to
buy the Isuzu Cape Highlander for 200,000 baht and slapped on the cuffs once the
money was exchanged.
Police said the vehicle had been reported stolen May 19 in
Nakhon Sawan by Piya Tinchart, 23.
Under interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to
police they met two other men, identified only as “Lek” and “Neung” and,
afterward, came upon Piya as he and 10 friends were listening to music blaring
from the Isuzu’s customized audio system by the Chao Phraya River.
Police said Wasan confessed that they had pretended they were
police officers, then pulled a gun on the driver to steal the vehicle. They then
took it to Pattaya where the audio equipment was stripped and sold.
Piya came to Pattaya to recover his vehicle and presented the
investigating officers with a gift basket. The suspects were charged with armed
robbery and impersonating police.
