SURAT THANI: Two Pakistani nationals have been arrested in Bangkok and charged with the theft of a bracelet worth 102,000 baht from a gold shop in Surat Thani on Wednesday.
Muhammao Bashis, 41, and Allah Bakhsh, 29, were apprehended by Chana Songkram police, Pol Maj Gen Apichart Boonsriroj, police chief of Surat Thani, said on Thursday afternoon. They had the gold bracelet in their possession.
The two suspects had rented a car and fled to Bangkok to avoid arrest, he said.
They were also suspects in the theft of a diamond-studded Rado watch worth 61,200 baht from Srithong shop in Hat Yai of Songkhla on June 19.
They were being returned to Surat Thani for legal processing.
The theft occurred at Mae Malee 7 gold shop on Na Muang road in Muang municipality area.
Uthumporn Sinmai, 35, saleswoman at the shop, told police that two foreign men of swarthy appearance entered her shop shortly before noon on Wednesday.
One man was wearing a white T-shirt bearing the words "HAT YAI Thailand", and the other man an orange singlet with the words "I love PHUKET’’. They showed an interest in buying a gold ring.
Mr Muhammao was wearing the Hat Yai T-shirt and Mr Allah the singlet declaring his love for Phuket, acording to Pol Maj Gen Apichart.
While discussing the price the man in the white T-shirt asked to also see a 5-baht weight gold bracelet, worth 102,000 baht. The man in the orange singlet started talking with her while his friend took 2,800 baht from his wallet to pay for the ring, Ms Uthumporn said.
After they had left the shop, she discovered the gold bracelet was missing. A security camera recording from inside the shop showed the man in the white T-shirt covering the bracelet with his wallet.
Pol Lt Col Niphon Chatree, deputy superintendent for crime suppression at Muang police station, said the two foreigners had checked out from a hotel in Muang district at 10am on Wednesday, before the theft.
They earlier went to another gold shop, but left empty-handed, before going to the Mae Malee 7 gold shop.
Police were expanding their investigation in the belief the two men may have been involved in other, similar cases.
A police officer questions staff at the Mae Malee 7 gold shop as he watches recorded footage from the shop security camera after the trheft on Wednesday. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)