KHON KAEN — Police have heaped praise on a high school student for his courage after he chased a runaway serial thief on a motorcycle for 40 kilometres and successfully stopped the man.
A woman was waiting at red lights at an intersection only 500 metres from Muang Khon Kaen police station at about 11am Sunday when a 27-year-old man identified later as Shinnawat Sudaengnoi snatched her bag from her motorcycle basket and fled on his motorcycle, said deputy Khon Kaen police chief Supakorn Kamsingnok.
Pakawat Ngernchai, a Matthayom 5 (grade 11) pupil from Khonkaenwittayayon School, witnessed the incident, called 191 and told police about the suspect’s identity and details of his getaway vehicle.
A police patrol pickup truck gave chase but failed to catch Mr Shinnawat as he rode into narrow and congested streets.
Pol Col Supakorn said police were only made aware that Mr Pakawat was also following the suspect on his motorcycle after they received another phone call from him and were told about the thief’s escape route.
Mr Pakawat kept reporting useful information to police on the phone as he kept on chasing the suspect along various roads for 40km. With help from the pupil’s tip, Pol Col Supakorn said, police set up a checkpoint on the Khon Kaen-Udon Thani bypass road and finally were able to stop and arrest Mr Shinnawat.
Shortly before the arrest, Mr Shinnawat made a U-turn to avoid the checkpoint and rode in the opposite direction on a road shoulder. But the young student, who was still following the suspect, blocked him with his own motorcycle, resulting in both men falling off their bikes. The officers then managed to subdue the fugitive and arrest him.
The stolen bag contained a baht-weight gold necklace, 8,320 baht in cash and three mobile phones.
Mr Shinnawat allegedly confessed to committing similar crimes seven times in a month. He said he needed money to feed his wife and their two-months old baby after unsuccessfully trying to find a job.
Pol Col Supakorn said he would give an honorary plaque to Mr Pakawat to thank him and recognise his contribution to police work and to society. “He performed his duty perfectly as a good Samaritan and is a role model for other juveniles to follow,” the officer added.