PATTAYA, Thailand – Police have arrested a 25-year-old suspect accused of carrying out a series of daring burglaries targeting luxury homes in Bangkok’s Thonglor area, including cases in which the intruder allegedly hid inside residences for up to six hours waiting for homeowners to fall asleep before striking. On June 24, the suspect, later identified as Patinya or Lin, was arrested on Pattaya Beach Road in Chonburi province under a warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on charges including nighttime burglary, residential theft, and entering properties by damaging barriers and using unauthorized entry routes.
Investigators said the suspect targeted the homes of retired officials and affluent residents in the Thonglor area. The method reportedly involved climbing fences, forcing open windows or doors, and searching for valuables such as cash, luxury watches, gold necklaces, and sacred amulets. Police said that in several cases the suspect entered homes while residents were still awake and then concealed themself inside the property, waiting until occupants had gone to bed. In one case, investigators believe the suspect remained hidden inside a residence for as long as six hours before stealing valuables and escaping.
Evidence gathered by investigators linked the suspect to at least six burglaries in the Thonglor area and one additional case in Bangkok’s Chokchai district. After the crimes, the suspect allegedly fled to Chonburi, where detectives eventually tracked and arrested them in Pattaya. During questioning, the suspect reportedly confessed to all charges and admitted selling stolen property to fund online gambling. Police said the suspect had no regular employment and relied on proceeds from the thefts to support gambling activities. The suspect has been transferred to investigators at Thonglor Police Station for legal proceedings.
