Jobless Burglar Caught Pawning Stolen Stuff

September 7, 2012

A 21-year-old man was arrested after pawning items he stole from homes in South Pattaya. He said he needed money since he just came out of jail and had no work to do. Police plan to prosecute the pawn shop owner for buying stolen goods.

PATTAYA – September 6, 2012 [PDN]; at 6:30 p.m., the arrest of a burglar was announced by Pol. Col. Thammanoon Munkong, Superintendent, Pattaya police station, Chonburi province; Pol. Lt. Col. Kierttisak Sathongoy, Deputy Superintendent; Pol. Maj. Seksan Reuvate, Inspector; and the police team.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Suppharerk Topha, age 21, address 206/68 Moo 1 Tambon Toongsonghong, Amphur Laksi, Bangkok.

Identifying the suspect were two of his victims, “Mr. Kevin” (alias), age 56, nationality French, and his Thai wife, who pointed him out to police to arrest.

The burglar had been caught by police after pawning the stolen items. Police recovered 2 gold rings, an iPad 3, a pawn shop receipt, and 3 sharp irons.

The burglary took place at night on September 4. A burglar broke into two houses of foreigners at a South Pattaya village on Soi 5, Phratamnak road. He stole some properties and then escaped.

Police detectives eventually tracked down the identity of the suspect. They located Mr. Suppharerk Topha and followed up until they found him walking out from a pawn shop named “Baan Com Khong Kao.” So the police arrested him.

The police inspected in the pawn shop and found the stolen items. When checking the iPad, police discovered that Mr. Suppharerk had taken a lot of photographs of himself with the iPad, so the police used the photos as evidence to arrest him.

They then contacted the victims to identify their stolen property and point out the suspect to confirm to arrest.

Mr. Suppharerk confessed to police that he used the sharp irons to pry open the doors or windows of homes. He stole their property, which he then sold to the pawn shop. He told police he burglarized the homes because he needed money, as he just been released from jail for stealing a motorbike, and he had no job.

Pol. Col. Thammanoon revealed that the pawn shop, “Baan Com Khong Kao,” had not asked Mr. Suppharerk for his identity card while he was pawning the stolen items.

So the suspect used a fake name and surname in pledging the properties, which made the police work more difficult in investigating the case.

The police are gathering evidence to prosecute the pawn shop owner for operating without permission, and for buying stolen property.