Chonburi City Police arrested a suspect who broke into the donation box at the Phra Phuttha Sihing Shrine in Chonburi Province, stealing 50,000 baht. After fleeing by motorcycle, he camped out to hide from police. He admitted he had accepted the possibility of being caught.
At 18:00 on 26 Dec 2025, Pol. Col. Somchai Tiwongsa, Superintendent of Chonburi City Police Station, together with Pol. Lt. Col. Noprut Jitman, Deputy Chief of Investigation, and Pol. Lt. Col. Sarawut Limcharoen, Investigation Inspector, took custody of the suspect under a Chonburi Provincial Court warrant for "joint theft in a public worship place at night." The suspect, Mr. Rangsarn Pasingsop, 32, was brought in along with evidence including break-in tools, large wire cutters, the clothes worn during the crime, a motorcycle, and remaining coins.
After the crime, the suspect used large wire cutters to cut the lock on the front door of the Phra Phuttha Sihing Shrine, entered the shrine, and broke into the donation box, stealing about 50,000 baht. The incident occurred at about 22:00 on 16 Dec 2025. Afterward, he fled by motorcycle over 120 kilometers to hide by camping in Pak Nam Prasae Subdistrict, Klaeng District, Rayong Province. Police tracked and arrested him along with his girlfriend based on investigation evidence.
Police then took Mr. Rangsarn to reenact the crime scene at the Phra Phuttha Sihing Shrine. He used large wire cutters to cut the lock on the front door, entered the shrine, and broke into the donation box, stealing about 50,000 baht. He admitted to spending the money on daily expenses, leaving only about 200 baht. He also accepted that he had resigned himself to possibly being caught but said he had no choice as he was unemployed. After the reenactment, police took him to the case officer to proceed with legal action.