Pattaya Police Bust Big Gang of Foreign Burglars

October 17, 2012

Police arrested a big gang of 11 mostly South Americans who had been burglarizing homes in Pattaya and other areas. They mailed the stolen items back home or sold them at pawnshops. Many suspects also had expired visas.

PATTAYA – October 16, 2012 [PDN]; the arrests of 11 burglars mostly from South America was announced at the Pattaya Office of Immigration by Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu Kerdlapphol, Commissioner of the Office of Immigration; Pol. Maj. Gen. Chitsanuphong Yutathat; Pol. Maj. Gen. Montri Potranan, Deputy Commissioner; Pol. Maj. Gen. Ronnasin Phusara, Commander; and Pol. Col. Itthiphol Itthisarnronnachai, Deputy Commander.

Members of the gang of thieves were identified as: Mr. Torres Rodigrace Carlos Enrike, age 35, nationality Columbian; Mr. Franco Jose Ardan, age 40, nationality Columbian; Mr. Andres Felipe Restorpo, age 26, nationality Columbian; Mr. Sanches Garati Mac Jaimi, age 35, nationality Peruvian; Mr. Lopez Salazar George, age 39, nationality Mexican; Mr. Degado Pinsion Oscar Ivan, age 31, nationality Columbian; Mr. Lucus Zunica Juan Carlos, age 32, nationality Mexican; Mr. Evan Kerrero Risc, age 35, nationality Mexican.

The police also seized many stolen items such as gold necklaces with diamonds, gold bracelets and rings, and other bracelets and earrings, along with three rental cars used by the suspects to commit their burglaries. The cars were rented from Pattaya and Phuket provinces, and contained equipment for breaking into residences.

The main areas targeted by the burglars were Bang Khen, Bang Kapi, Toong Kru, Klong Samwa, Taweewattana Bangkok, Amphur Phrapradaeng, Samutprakarn province, Amphur Pakkred, Nonthaburi province.

Initially, the police arrested the suspects with charges of overstaying in the Kingdom with expired visas, and police revoked the permission to allow them to stay in the Kingdom.

Further investigation led to the arrest of two more suspects, identified as Mr. Vanegus Louis Octavio, age 46, nationality Columbian; and Mr. Marco Augusto Lopez Ramires, age 42, from Guatemala.

They were arrested in a rental room in Phaholyothin with many stolen items including cash, wristwatches, iron-cutting equipment, screwdrivers, gold digital weight machines, and equipment to check the quality of gold.

Police arrested the final suspect, identified as Mr. Benjamin Essekeaw Mokollon Lopez, from Guatemala, when he came to get the car that Mr. Vanegus had rented, in order to sell some stolen property. Mr. Benjamin was arrested on Soi Sukhumvit 4, and police seized the gloves and the cap he had to conceal his face.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu said the police investigation of the case began after the Office of Immigration reported that a big gang of South American thieves were breaking into the homes of people and stealing property.

So Pol. Maj. Gen. Ronnasil led an investigation into the case until the police tracked down and arrested the 11 suspects. The gang of thieves had been renting cars in Pattaya and Phuket provinces, and then wandered around stealing property in houses while the owners were gone.

The thieves had been mailing back stolen property to their home towns via a parcel post company. They sold other stolen property to pawnshops in the area of Soi Seu Yai Uthit. Police said that residents who had been burglarized can come to the Office of Immigration to identify and claim their stolen property.