Arrest made of ‘S. Rama 5,’ a notorious tattooed man using counterfeit 1,000-baht bills, who roamed around deceiving sellers and fleeing with change. He has a checkered record with nine prior arrests. Ultimately, he was caught at a resort after Pak Khlong Rangsit police planned to use a profile picture of an attractive woman to chat via LINE, open a chat room, and arrange a meeting for intimacy. The suspect was fooled, replying, “Hurrying to shower now, send me the location.”
On 23 April 2026 in Pathum Thani province, reporters learned that on the evening of 22 April, the investigative unit of Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Siraphop Bualuang, deputy chief of investigations, and Pol. Lt. Itthiphon Phuttharaksa, head of investigations, along with officers, executed an arrest warrant for Mr. S. Songsak Toeam, nicknamed “S. Rama 5,” 37, a Bangkok resident suspected of theft. He was apprehended at a resort in Lak Hok subdistrict, Mueang district, Pathum Thani.
He was taken in for interrogation and further investigation. He has a lengthy criminal history. Social media also circulated images matching the suspect involved in seven cases within a month, with police in several jurisdictions seeking him.
Pol. Lt. Col. Siraphop Bualuang said the case arose following directives from the Royal Thai Police, the Region 1 Police Commander, and Pathum Thani Provincial Police Commander to apprehend offenders causing distress to residents. During Songkran, a thief stole motorcycles in the Pak Khlong Rangsit jurisdiction.
After field investigation, the investigative team identified the suspect as a man with distinctive tattoos covering from his head to body. Using police techniques, after learning his full name, they gathered evidence to seek a court warrant to arrest him.
On 22 April, Pol. Col. Phatthanchai Phomphiboon, chief of Pak Khlong Rangsit Police, ordered the investigative unit to expedite the suspect’s arrest. Police created a LINE account with a profile picture of an attractive woman and contacted the suspect, knowing he had high sexual desire.
They conversed and persuaded him to meet for intimacy at the resort. The suspect fell for the ruse and arrived as arranged. Police lay in wait, and the suspect appeared riding the stolen motorcycle at the meeting point.
The arrest team then revealed themselves with the warrant and took him into custody for further interrogation. A search found nine counterfeit 1,000-baht notes on him, which were collected as evidence.
Pol. Lt. Itthiphon Phuttharaksa added that investigative leads and technical data, along with social media information, helped identify the suspect’s residence, leading to the arrest of Mr. S. Songsak.
During questioning, the suspect confessed, claiming he stole motorcycles to use them as delivery vehicles for job applications. Regarding the counterfeit 1,000-baht bills, he said a friend asked him to deliver a secondhand car to a buyer and collect cash payment, which included fake notes given by the buyer.
He said the buyer paid over ten thousand baht in cash inside an envelope. When he gave the money to his friend, the friend scolded him for accepting all counterfeit bills. He then kept the fake notes and later used them, which led to his arrest.
Authorities have coordinated with investigators in all relevant jurisdictions to detain him for prosecution according to the law.
Regarding the suspect’s record, in 2007 he was arrested for unlawful detention in the jurisdiction of Chom Bueng Police Station.
In 2007, he was also charged with negligence causing death in Chom Bueng Police jurisdiction.
In 2010, he was charged with using category 1 narcotics in Mueang Nonthaburi Police jurisdiction.
In 2012, he was charged with possession of category 1 narcotics in Mueang Nonthaburi Police jurisdiction.
In 2014, he was charged with using category 1 narcotics in Mueang Nonthaburi Police jurisdiction.
In 2015, he was charged with possession of category 1 narcotics in Mueang Nonthaburi Police jurisdiction.
Also in 2015, he was charged with theft in Bang Khen Police jurisdiction.
In 2016, he was charged with nighttime trespassing in Mueang Nonthaburi Police jurisdiction.
And in 2022, he was charged as the mastermind of theft in Khlong Luang Police jurisdiction.