SURAT THANI - Three 16-year-old boys have been arrested and charged with robbing young women at gunpoint and stealing their cash, other valuables and motorcycles.

The proceeds from the robberies were use to buy drugs, according to police.

The three, identified only as Yo, Game and Man, were apprehended on Tuesday night as they closed in on their 10th victim, police said.  

Police seized from them six motorcycles, two thai pradit (homemade) handguns, three mobile phones, a digital camera and three full face helmets, Pol Maj Gen Kiattipong Khaosum-ang, chief of Surat Thani provincial police, told a press briefing on Wednesday. 

The teenage robbers targeted only female students who were riding on motorcycles around tambon Khun Thalay, where Suratthani Rajabhat University and Prince of Songkla University are located.

They would rob the young women at gunpoint of their motorbikes and valuables. Their favourite tactic was to ride up alongside the women and then kick their motorbike to make them fall off or lose control, Pol Maj Gen Kiattipong said.

The suspects told police they live in the municipal area but scouted for victims in tambon Khun Thalay because there were many students on motorcycles and no surveillance cameras along the roads.

They admitted having robbed at least nine women a month and said most of the cash and money from selling the stolen bikes was spent on drugs.  

Related search: crime, teenage crime, street robbery