PHUKET: A man with a large football gambling habit stole gold necklaces valued at 900,000 to pay off his debt, Phuket police said today.
The man officers believe snatched gold necklaces from a Phuket City gold shop on Friday was arrested when Phuket City police raided a house in Garden View Villa, near Rajabhat University in Phuket City, about 9am.
He is Techin Kongsinon, 22, father of a two-year-old girl, who told officers he had an outstanding football gambling debt of 200,000 baht and pulled the heist because he was being asked to repay it.
Officers recovered eight necklaces valued at almost 600,000 baht from around his house and are continuing a search for the rest of the jewellery. Khun Maochia runs a convenience store.
He told police he did not know the name of the man who gave him a ride on a motorcycle to the Tanate One gold shop in Dilok-U-Tit Road, near the Robinson food market.
Police are viewing with scepticism his claim that he had only met the man at the Post Office in Phuket City and asked him there to give him a ride to steal from the gold shop, which is nearby.
Officers recovered Khun Techin's ID card from a motorcycle renter, also nearby, where he had hired a Honda Click. The staff at the gold shop looked at the ID card and identified Khun Techin as the raider.
He told police it was his first crime. He is being held without bail, pending a court appearance.
Bangkok Hopes Overflow Banks as Floods are CheckedThe man officers believe snatched gold necklaces from a Phuket City gold shop on Friday was arrested when Phuket City police raided a house in Garden View Villa, near Rajabhat University in Phuket City, about 9am.
He is Techin Kongsinon, 22, father of a two-year-old girl, who told officers he had an outstanding football gambling debt of 200,000 baht and pulled the heist because he was being asked to repay it.
Officers recovered eight necklaces valued at almost 600,000 baht from around his house and are continuing a search for the rest of the jewellery. Khun Maochia runs a convenience store.
He told police he did not know the name of the man who gave him a ride on a motorcycle to the Tanate One gold shop in Dilok-U-Tit Road, near the Robinson food market.
Police are viewing with scepticism his claim that he had only met the man at the Post Office in Phuket City and asked him there to give him a ride to steal from the gold shop, which is nearby.
Officers recovered Khun Techin's ID card from a motorcycle renter, also nearby, where he had hired a Honda Click. The staff at the gold shop looked at the ID card and identified Khun Techin as the raider.
He told police it was his first crime. He is being held without bail, pending a court appearance.
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