Police are urgently pursuing six youths who escaped from the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Detention and Protection Center. They stole a pickup truck parked at a school and drove it across the province border. The latest lead locates the abandoned vehicle in Noen Sa-nga District, Chaiyaphum Province.
At 05:30 on 16 July 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Peerakit Hanwet, deputy investigation officer of Pho Klang Police Station in Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, received a report requesting support to track male youths who escaped from the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Detention and Protection Center at 118 Mittraphap 19 Alley, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District. He promptly proceeded to investigate.
Upon inquiry, Mr. Manit Pakkawesung, 56, an employee of the detention center and the complainant, revealed that while on duty, six youths took advantage of the teacher on guard opening the gate and ran out heading west. They were identified as youths with hometowns in Kudjik Subdistrict, Sung Noen District, Nakhon Ratchasima, and five others from Chaiyaphum Province.
Around 07:00, the group committed theft of an Isuzu pickup truck, license plate No. Nakorn 4834 Nakhon Ratchasima, parked in the school parking lot at Ratchasima Wittayalai School, about 800 meters from the detention center. A good citizen reported that the youths fled using Mittraphap Highway (Route 2) heading toward Sung Noen District.
Initially, it is believed the key youths are from Nakhon Ratchasima and led the group from Chaiyaphum to flee to their own area. Authorities have deployed forces along the route and coordinated with police and community leaders. The youths reportedly fled because they missed their homes.
The latest update reveals the stolen vehicle was found abandoned in Noen Sa-nga District, Chaiyaphum Province.