A member of a gang using stolen credit cards lifted from foreign tourists to buy goods at shopping malls has been arrested and merchandise worth about one million seized in Phuket.
The 53-year-old suspect was known by several names including Pithawat or Chit Akkharathitiveerakul, Kawang Faiphet or Anuchit Faiphet, police said. He was presented at a police media conference at Phuket’s Muang police station on Tuesday.
He was caught with five credit cards stolen from foreigners. The seized goods paid for with the cards included 300 cartons of cigars worth about 180,000 baht, 13 smartphones, two iPads and other items with a combined value of about 1 million baht. Police also seized two cars.
The arrest followed information from a commercial bank about unusual use of foreign credit cards. Investigators learned that the stolen cards had been used at shopping malls before 2pm every day.
Police spotted Mr Pithawat using a card to buy goods at the Tesco Lotus Chalong branch around noon on Nov 29. They followed him to the store’s parking lot and saw him getting into a waiting car. Police asked for a search, but the driver sped way.
Police gave chase and later fired shots at the car’s tyres. The driver and Mr Pithawat fled in another car which was later stopped at a road checkpoint. The driver, identified later as Rakrop Darunphan, managed to flee, but Mr Pithawat was caught.
Police were hunting down Mr Rakrop.
A police investigation revealed the thieves were well organised. Members of the gang stole credit cards from foreigners' travel bags. The cards were later handed to Mr Pithawat and other gang members to buy goods at shopping malls. The purchased merchandise was later fenced through shops known to the gang, police said.
They split the money from the sale of the goods among themselves, with the people who stole the credit cards getting 10,000 baht per card.
The police search and investigation were continuing.