- Previously, around May 2025, Nake Chalee had his home burglarized, losing valuable collectibles amassed over his lifetime. Over a thousand precious items disappeared, including a 100-year-old antique violin. Stolen items included the century-old violin, guitars, cello, about 64 firearms, and the thieves ransacked the house, even removing the air conditioners, leaving the house nearly empty. The damage was estimated at 50 million baht, but the case made no progress.
- Until recently, Big Tao, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, arranged a meeting for Nake to present evidence and follow up on the case involving stolen property valued over 10 million baht.
- Nake said he came to submit all the evidence they had gathered since the case stalled, bringing it to the Crime Suppression Division to press the police. He said he didn’t want trouble with anyone but would no longer pity the thieves, as he had given them a whole year’s chance. He apologized in advance to the police and the thieves if they end up in jail, saying the opportunity had been given for a long time.
- What he really wants, with complete documents, is the return of 65 firearms, of which only one has been returned so far, leaving 64 still missing. Since the guns are dangerous, he fears where they might end up. All his guns were legally owned.
- If this matter had remained quiet for another 5-6 months, it would have stayed that way. Over the past 9 months, he has been labeled a scapegoat, accused of lying. But now that the issue has resurfaced, he will try to recover as much as possible because everyone who has helped is exhausted, so he feels compelled to act to revive the case.
- Many urged him to sue the police for neglecting their duty, but he declined, saying he didn’t want conflict. After a week of media coverage, the police have started working, even though 9 months had passed. He hopes this will now proceed and the items be recovered as much as possible.
- Asked if he was disappointed with the police, Nake said he has lived 30 years and finds the situation laughable. He’s glad it happened to him rather than others who might suffer more. He said they had to do sting operations and catch thieves themselves, providing all evidence to the police that these people were selling his stolen goods. The day after the theft, two thieves were caught, and he is very confident that police and thieves know each other well. After that, the case went silent.
- He knows who the thieves are because his house, the Crime Suppression Division, and the surrounding area are home to them. His greatest regret is that if the police had followed up from day one when the thieves were caught, he believes they could have recovered the stolen goods.
- The 65 stolen guns were kept in a safe along with money and gold. Society accused him of lying, but now he has the right to recover the money, gold, violins, guitars, woodwinds, and string instruments, though he only wants the guns returned.
- Asked if he will get the guns back, he said probably yes but is unsure about their condition, fearing they won’t be the same. He is saddened because he kept them secret, known only to close people, and never fired them. He stored them very well. What hurts most is that they caught the thieves within 1-2 days, and if the police had seriously pursued it, the guns would have been returned in good condition, but now he’s uncertain of their state.
- Over the past 10 days, many senior police have called, but he did not answer, knowing he had to meet Big Tao. He didn’t want to tell the media they had been in contact with senior officers all along. He questioned why they only talked now after the media coverage, not during the previous 9 months.
- He said he never used any privilege. He believes if it were a million-baht designer handbag lost, it would have been news by now, but he never used any special privileges.
- He knows many units are now stressed because of the impact. He told the thieves not to be angry if they really end up in jail, even though the thieves said they would probably get bail and then talk. He feels that their words indicate prior discussions on how to respond.
- Asked if the stolen items might be with senior officials, Nake declined to confirm but said the guns he received back came from seniors. He kept the guns in pristine condition, stored in a heavily secured safe at home. These guns were bought from senior officials; several are rare and some unused.
- All guns taken without proper licenses are illegal firearms, and those responsible must be held accountable.
- Asked what is unusual about this case, Nake said in his 30 years, he’s been a victim of theft but blamed as a liar. After 9 months, they tracked down two thieves caught on the first day and two more the following month who confessed to stealing the guns. If Art is confident he didn’t know the items were stolen, why hide them at home? From now on, Nake said he won’t believe their words. He apologized to Noi for no longer helping and apologized to the thieves for them having to go to jail, after giving them 9 months. If the items had been returned sooner, he wouldn’t be stressed now.
- Asked if he fears repercussions or safety issues amid allegations involving influential people, Nake said he’s not afraid.
- Big Tao revealed he spoke with the police handling the case; one gun was returned, and earlier the Chokchai Police Station chief returned three more. The police are trying their best to recover all 65 guns, but legal constraints about torture hamper their efforts. Since Nake came forward, the Crime Suppression Division will assist in recovering as much property as possible. There are currently three suspects, with charges to be filed on 25 Apr. The case isn’t complicated; if the items are with someone, evidence will lead to prosecution.
- Big Tao said the difficulty lies in suspects being uncooperative and giving conflicting statements, denying facts, and the law limits what police can do.
- Asked how to proceed given suspects’ stubborn denials, Big Tao said legal reforms are needed to give police more power. Current laws prioritize suspects’ rights over victims’, which is unfair to victims.
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