A 27-year-old man, leader of a gang breaking into "top-up and coin-operated fuel machines," surrendered to authorities after being wanted for stealing money across multiple locations in Khon Kaen Province. He confessed to committing crimes to get money to spend on women and recruiting friends to continue when funds ran out.
At 10:00 a.m. on 27 June 2026 at Tha Phra Police Station, Khon Kaen Province, Police Lieutenant Colonel Surat Wanthamat, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, questioned a 27-year-old man from Phanoi Subdistrict, Wang Saphung District, Loei Province, currently renting a house in Ban Ped Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen. He was arrested under a warrant issued by Khon Kaen Provincial Court No. J 759/2569 dated 25 June 2026, charged with "joint burglary of a residence at night by damaging protective barriers."
Since early June 2026 until now, police at Tha Phra Station received reports from victims who had coin-operated washing machines, fuel top-up machines, Boonterm top-up machines, and Sombaisabai top-up machines installed in front of their houses. They reported that a male suspect had broken into the machines to steal money.
Recently, a victim at Nong Ya Praek Village No. 5, Don Han Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen, filed a complaint stating a male suspect added credit to a Boonterm top-up machine and then stole money from it. CCTV captured the suspect during the act. The victim requested police to track and arrest the suspect and prosecute him according to the law.
After receiving the report, police inspected the scene and found the top-up machine had recorded the phone number used by the suspect before stealing the cash. Police investigated and identified the owner of the phone number as the 27-year-old suspect. They then gathered evidence and obtained an arrest warrant to apprehend him for prosecution.
The Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Tha Phra Police Station said after the court issued the warrant, officers went to the suspect’s rented house but he was not there. Later in the evening of 26 June, the 27-year-old suspect voluntarily surrendered to police at Tha Phra Station and was taken into custody for questioning.
During questioning, the suspect confessed to being the individual captured on CCTV stealing money from a Boonterm top-up machine located in front of a house in Nong Ya Praek Village, Don Han Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen.
He admitted to breaking into coin-operated machines for washing, fuel top-up, and phone credit since early June, working with three friends. Each time, they used only two tools: bolt cutters and scissors. They mostly targeted coin-operated fuel machines since those yielded larger amounts, typically about 4,000-5,000 baht per break-in.
The suspect said he led the group and carried out the break-ins himself, while the three others acted as lookouts. They arranged to meet at various gas stations in Khon Kaen city and usually struck between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., committing around three thefts per week. They divided the money equally. He personally used the money to spend on women, buy gifts, take them out, and watch movies. When funds ran out, he would arrange with friends on two motorcycles to roam and seize opportunities to steal whenever possible.
The suspect further confessed that their thefts occurred in areas under the jurisdiction of Muang Mai, Ban Fang, Ban Ped, Phra Yuen, Tha Phra, Ban Haet, and Ku Thong police stations in Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province. Each theft yielded about 5,000-10,000 baht. He said he surrendered because he wanted to stop stealing and have a legitimate career to support himself.
After questioning, police took the suspect for formal charges and detention at the court to proceed with legal processes. The other three accomplices will be tracked down for questioning and charged with the same offenses.