The suspected leader of a trailer theft gang has been arrested in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district after seven years on the run.
Crime Suppression Division police apprehended Pradit Saenkla, 39, of Chon Buri, in front of the Tesco Lotus superstore on Phahon Yothin Road in the district on Saturday.
Mr Pradit was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Chachoengsao provincial court on Feb 3, 2012 for colluding in armed robbery.
Earlier, Mr Pradit and three other accomplices allegedly robbed a trailer truck driver in Bang Sao Thong area of Samut Prakan on the night of Sept 11, 2012. The thieves held the truck driver at gunpoint, tied him and then abandoned him along a road before fleeing with the trailer to Chon Buri.
Criminal records showed the gang had committed trailer robberies five times between 2011-12, targeting vehicles parked along the roads. They were reportedly paid 50,000 baht each, said Pol Col Boonlue Padungthin, chief of the CSD’s sub-division 3.
All gang members but Mr Pradit had been caught.
Operators of trailer heads and trailer trucks in the East had filed a complaint with the CSD to help arrest Mr Pradit. News about the robberies had scared truck drivers and caused damage worth tens of millions of baht to the operators, said Pol Col Boonlue.
During the interrogation, Mr Pradit denie the charges. CSD police later handed him over to Bang Nam Prieo police station in Chachoengsao for legal action.