Police at Rattanathibet Station arrested a cunning couple, both former drivers, who sneaked into their former employer's home amid the Nonthaburi floods to steal Buddha statues, amulets, wristwatches, branded bags, and jewelry valued at over 900,000 baht. They confessed, saying they needed money for expenses.
At 12:00 on 20 Oct 2016, Pol. Col. Prut Chamroonsart, Chief of Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Phusinthon Yipu, Deputy Chief of Investigation, Pol. Lt. Col. Pracha Yungwolvirokul, Investigation Officer, Pol. Sgt. Saharat Sueakaew, Deputy Investigation Officer, and Pol. Sub Lt. Adul Phuchum, Deputy Investigation Officer, jointly arrested Santi or Oat Anpeng, 45, and Champa Maliyatan, 32, a Lao couple. They seized Buddha statues, amulets, wristwatches, handbags, jewelry, Benjarong souvenirs, and a white Peugeot sedan with license plate ฎฮ-306 Bangkok (used in the crime), totaling 50 items valued at about 900,000 baht. The arrest took place at house number 17, Soi Chim Phli 11, Chim Phli subdistrict, Taling Chan district.
The arrest followed a report on 10 Oct 2016 by Chonitha Ratiwanich, 51, the victim, who filed a complaint with Pol. Lt. Sup. Supharuek Aswapoom, Investigating Officer at Rattanathibet Police Station, stating that burglars had stolen property from her home. Police reviewed CCTV footage at the scene and traced the suspects' escape route, identifying the couple, Santi or Oat Anpeng and Champa Maliyatan, both Lao nationals. They were subsequently arrested along with the stolen items.
Santi, or Oat, confessed that he had worked as a driver for the victim's father for over five years. He said he needed money for expenses, so he committed burglary at the victim's home. The first break-in occurred on 8 Oct 2016 between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., when a 42-year-old acquaintance named Tu helped him break in. He stole items but was unable to sell them for money. On 9 Oct 2016, he returned and stole several items, pawning two wristwatches for 13,000 baht and selling two branded bags for 700 baht. He admitted to using methamphetamine due to family stress.
Chonitha Ratiwanich, 51, the victim, said, “On 26 Sep 2016, heavy rain caused flooding in Prachanivet Village, Soi Samakkhi 58/16, Tha Sai subdistrict, Mueang Nonthaburi district, forcing us to relocate temporarily. My father was ill and hospitalized, so I stayed at the hospital with him. On 10 Oct 2016, after the floodwaters receded, I returned home to find that burglars had stolen property. I reported the crime to the police, who arrested the culprits. I was shocked to learn the thieves were people my father had helped and employed. I do not forgive them.”
After questioning, the suspects were charged with nighttime theft using a vehicle to facilitate the removal or concealment of stolen property. They were taken, along with the seized items, to the investigators at Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi.