New phone hotline for auto theft

New phone hotline for auto theft

The police Centre for Automobile and Motorcycle Crime Suppression has set up a new hotline where people can report stolen vehicles and bikes, and get a quicker more efficient response, CMAS chief Pol Gen Somyos Phumphanmuanga said.

Pol Gen Somyos Phumphanmuang, a deputy national police chief, announced the new hotline, 1599,  at a  press conference on Wednesday.

"The majority of auto theft victims contact 191, or their local police station, to file a report, but due to problems with co-ordination among the departments the stolen vehicle will have already left the country or been stripped into parts before police can take any action,” he said.

“To enable us to do our job more effectively, the CAMCS has opened a new hotline, 1599, and a website www.lostcar.go.th, where the victims can directly file a complaint,” Pol Gen Somyos said.

Within three minutes of receiving a complaint police could communicate with border authorities to prevent stolen vehicles being taken out of the country, he said.

He said the hotline would also provide information about stolen vehicles, so that businesses and individuals would not make the mistake of purchasing them.

Pol Gen Somyos said the department also plans to purchase new technology in the near future to help combat vehicle theft.

According to the Royal Thai Police Office, 884 motorcycles and 133 cars were reported stolen in January 2013.

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