| Tuesday,
September 11, 2007
Serial burglar nabbed
PHUKET CITY: After a series of unsolved home burglaries, Phuket
City Police finally arrested 28-year-old Wirat Nookue at his home
in Rassada Village 3 on September 8.
Stolen goods valued by police at 600,000 baht were recovered.
At a press conference yesterday, Phuket City Police Superintendent
Pol Col Nos Svettalekha explained that Wirat, described as a “dealer
in used goods”, was spotted by police wearing an expensive
amulet while eating noodles at a restaurant on Soi Kingkaew.
Noting that the amulet matched the description of one that had
been reported stolen, police questioned Wirat, who apparently
later confessed to having stolen it.
Police escorted Wirat to his home, where a large cache of stolen
goods was found and Wirat was placed under arrest.
“The culprit, disguised as a trader in secondhand goods,
entered unoccupied houses in the daytime. He usually entered through
the back of the home, using a screwdriver to pry open a door or
window.
“Once inside, he stole money and goods such as gold jewelry
and amulets. The total value of the stolen goods was about one
million baht, but we confiscated goods worth only about 600,000
baht.”
Recovered and displayed on a table in front of the thief were
88 amulets, two gold necklaces, a gold bracelet, two watches,
a Motorola V31 cell phone, 30 10-baht banknotes, 14 banknotes
of foreign currency, a pocket knife and a safe removed from a
house in Natkamon Village.
“He confessed that he acted alone and broke into eight houses.
We have notified the homeowners, who can now come to the station
to identify and reclaim their property,” he said.
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