A known purse snatcher was found dead in his cell at a police station in Samsen district of Bangkok on Thursday morning.

Pol Gen Jetsada Suaysom, superintendent at Samsen police station, said  the body of Attapon Watanawichian, 36, was discovered in the morning suspended from the cell bars by an electrical wire tied around his neck.

Apparently, the man had pulled the wire from the ceiling, coiled it around the cell bars and hanged himself. It was estimated that he had been dead for about six hours.

Attapon was arrested for vehicle theft. He was apprehended in Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon province.

He was also a known purse snatcher. Police found at least 50 stolen purses and two stolen passports in his possession. Attapon was known to grab victim's purses and then speed away on his motorcycle. It was believed he had robbed at least 100 people this way.

He had been jailed for eight years after his arrest in 1998.

Pol Gen Jetsada said it appeared Attapon was stressed out after his arrest and decided to commit suicide before police announced his detainment to the press.

Related search: Purse snatcher, suicide