Stolen Jewelry Recovered From Rayong Robbery

November 9, 2012

Police detectives arrested a Rayong man for holding stolen gold jewelry worth 2 million THB from a robbery. Four robbers had been arrested by police, but a police officer was killed in the process. The suspect told police he was not involved in the robbery and was just holding the stolen stuff

RAYONG – November 8, 2012 [PDN]; at 11 a.m., the arrest of a man for holding stolen gold jewelry from a gold shop robbery was announced in the meeting room of the office of police section 2, Chonburi province, by Pol. Lt. Gen. Vinai Thongsong, Commissioner Police section 2; along with the detective police section 2.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Sitthirat or Nok Praphanpat, age 27, address 100/2 Moo 11 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province.

Police seized the evidence that included a stolen gold necklace and gold bracelet weighing approximately 70 THB and worth almost 2 million THB.

The jewelry was stolen on September 11 from the Thepjinda gold shop on the side of the road route Yaira-Baan Chang, Amphur Baan Chang, Rayong province. The gold shop owner, Mrs. Sasithorn Varavuth, age 36, confirmed that the recoverd jewelry was stolen from her shop.

Police had previously arrested four suspects for the robbery, and a police officer was killed while trying to apprehend the suspects. However, before their arrests, the robbers had arranged for Mr. Sitthirat to stash the stolen jewelry at his house.

After his arrest, Mr. Sitthirat told police that he was not involved in the robbery. But after the suspects robbed the gold shop, they made a phone call to Mr. Sitthirat to pick up the stolen jewelry.

Mr. Sitthirat also brought one of the injured robbers to Bor Thong hospital, Amphur Bor Thong, Chonburi province. He then brought all gold to be kept at his house at Tambon Samnakthorn, Amphur Baan Chang, Rayong province.

Mr. Sitthirat said he didn’t try to sell or use the gold jewelry because his friend in jail said that he was eventually going to be released from jail, and told him to take good care of the stolen jewelry.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Vinai Thongsong revealed that after arresting the robbers, one of them contacted with Mr. Sitthirat from the jail. So the police later followed Mr. Sitthirat and arrested him in front of the Ambassador hotel in Tambon Na Jomtien, Amphur Sattahip, Chonburi province. Police later went to Mr. Sitthirat’s house and searched inside until they recovered the stolen jewelry.

Mrs. Sasithorn said she is so glad to get the gold back because she never thought it would ever be recovered. She also expressed sympathy to the family of the police officer who died while arresting the defendants.

In gratitude, she gave a flower basket to Pol. Lt. Gen. Vinai, and also gave reward money to the arresting police team to show her sincere thanks to the police.

Off-Duty Sattahip Police Officer Killed By Robbers

An off-duty police sergeant sleeping beside his pregnant wife was awakened by his police radio reporting a gold shop robbery. He rushed from his home to help, but was fatally shot by the robbers.