SATTAHIP, Thailand – The owner of Alangkarn Theatre in Na Jomtien worked with police to set a trap for two men suspected of repeatedly stealing electrical cables and other property from the closed theatre, causing damage estimated at several million baht.
At around 10.20 p.m. on October 2, 46-year-old Samiti Jiaraphaithun, son of the theatre owner, joined officers from Na Jomtien Police Station in an operation after CCTV footage showed two men entering the theatre and later leaving with bags.
Police and the theatre representative waited in a wooded area beside the railway road in Huai Yai. The two suspects were spotted leaving the direction of the theatre and riding away on a motorcycle.
Officers stopped them for questioning. The men reportedly claimed they had entered the area to go fishing, but a search found a black bag containing a large quantity of electrical cables. Police also found cable cutters and electrical testing equipment inside another bag.
The suspects were identified as Preedon Boonkoet and Natthaphong Tangjaidee. They were taken to Na Jomtien Police Station for further questioning.
Police said the two men initially admitted to previously stealing CCTV cameras, metal and corrugated roofing sheets from the theatre before selling the items to scrap dealers.
Samiti said Alangkarn Theatre stopped staging shows and admitting tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic around 2020. Although the business has remained closed, large amounts of property are still stored inside the extensive premises, which has security guards but cannot be completely monitored because of its size.
He said thieves had repeatedly entered the property, often cutting electrical cables and stealing other items almost every night. The accumulated damage had reached several million baht, with several suspects arrested in previous incidents.
After CCTV captured the latest suspected intruders, the theatre immediately contacted police and arranged the operation that led to the two arrests. Police are continuing the investigation and will proceed with legal action.
