An man accused of heading a credit card theft gang preying on tourists has been arrested along with two female accomplices in Chatuchak district of Bangkok

Officers raided a hotel room on Friday and arrested Warongrit, 46, Jirapha, 39, and Manassnan, 44. Police did not give their surnames.

Seized from the room were four electronic data capture devices, 30 credit card slips, three mobile phones, two memo books with details of others involved in card thefts and a roll of slips. Also seized were three sachets containing crystal methamphetamine.

The arrests followed an extended investigation into a pickpocketing gang preying on foreign tourists visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew.

The investigation found that the pickpockets were in fact part of a larger and highly organised operation.

The pickpockets who stole cards from tourists were Vietnamese and Chinese nationals. There were also Thais involved, said police.

Mr Warongrit was responsible for recruiting people to join the gang, according to investigators. He set up a “safe house” with electronic devices for use with stolen credit cards. He also had links with a Chinese call-centre scam boss, said police.

The Thai gang leader changed his hideouts frequently to avoid arrest over the past four years, police said. He stayed at hotels in Bangkok and other areas.

According to police, the suspect and his accomplices stole as much as 8 million baht a month.