A couple accused of more than 1,000 thefts in Bangkok and other provinces have been arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima, police said Tuesday.
Prasit Issarapakdee, 32, of Chon Buri, and his wife, Jutharat Huekkhunthod, 31, of Nakhon Ratchasima, were caught in a raid of their room in Muang district of Nakhon Ratchasima Monday.
Police recovered 172 stolen items, including gold rings, gold necklaces, watches, notebook computers, safes, Buddha amulets, digital cameras, mobile phones, handbags, ATM cards and many pawn tickets, from the room.
The couple were brought to a police press conference at the Provincial Police Region 3 today. Many believed victims arrived to identify the suspects, Khaosod Online reported.
Pol Maj Gen Termpong Sithtiprasert, deputy chief of the Police Region 3, said police had obtained information that the couple were involved in drugs and were suspected as thieves because, although they didn't work, they often took valuables to pawn shops. Officers then sought a court warrant to search the suspects' room where they found many items reported stolen.
A criminal record showed Ms Jutharat had earlier been arrested on theft charges in Chon Buri in 2003 and served a jail term of three years and six months. After being releasing from jail, she allegedly returned to the vicious circle by stealing valuables from many houses. She is accused of giving those stolen items to her husband to sell or pawn. Mr Prasit, pretending to be an amulet expert, often took stolen amulets to sell at amulet shops, police alleged.
Ms Jutharat confessed she had committed burglaries since 2003. After doing jail time, she moved to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima. She admitted she left her room on a motorcycle at around 4am every day to look for potential targets, mostly houses or shops. When owners failed to notice, she grabbed their valuables or cash and fled.
She told police that she sometimes managed to enter a victim's house where she hid there for a night. After everyone left for work, she emerged from the hideout and ransacked all the rooms in the house and made off with cash and valuables. Sometimes, she admitted, she would commit several thefts in one day. She said she used to steal as much as 300,000 baht worth of valuables at one house.
She admitted that she had committed more than 1,000 burglaries in Bangkok and other provinces for 11 years. She spent money to finance her illicit drug habit and personal expenses. She and her husband took 10 speed pills a day, she said.
Police have initially pressed theft charges against the couple and asked victims to see their stolen items at the Provincial Police Region 3.