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The seven-year-old is taken for questioning by Phuket police

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Phuket Boy, Aged Seven, Caught Stealing 6000 Baht from Store

By Sert Tongdee

Monday, December 24, 2012

PHUKET: A seven-year-old Phuket thief has been released even though he was caught with 6000 baht in his hand and admitted other thefts.

The young bandit, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught on Friday morning as he took cash from a till at a grocery store in Srisoonthorn, central Phuket.

Shop owner Buchpouporn Kornjanasadung, 40, heard a noise and hurried from her house into the store at the front.

She found the seven-year-old busy at his task. Nabbed with 6000 baht in his hand, he surrendered.

Colonel Boonlert On-Klang of Thalang Police Station gave the boy a good talking to, then was obliged to release him because he is too young to face a charge.

Colonel Boonlert said the boy's parents were divorced and he lived with his grandmother.

''He stole the money to pay for time on video games and for snacks,'' Colonel Boonlert said. ''He admitted to three other thefts, with other boys.''

Children aged under 18 can be placed in detention but there's also a minimum age and the boy appeared to be too young to be charged.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

''He admitted to three other thefts..''
Time for the house of correction.
If it doesn't start now, there is a big chance, it will never stop.
The names of the other boys are known to the police, the parents off all boys got informed about it?

Posted by Anonymous on December 24, 2012 14:34

Whilst stealing is a terrible crime at 7 years old a person cannot rationalise and realise the implications of the crime. He should be released back to his Grandma who should keep a close eye on him and take away some of his priveleges. Also shouldn't a Gurdian be present before Plice interview him, he is 7 years old!

Posted by Happy Farang on December 24, 2012 14:47

Anonymous - he is 7 years old, give him a chance, house of correction should be a last resort, were you perfect when you were 7?

Posted by Happy Farang on December 24, 2012 14:58

Wow 7 years old, Though he is young it would have been a good time to place a scare in his young mind. If they placed him in an empty jail room for an hour or so and told him if he continues he could spend years there it might have an effect on his young ways. Maybe give him a tour of the real occupied area to see how they live behind bars.
In my country it was called
"Scared Straight" with life time prisoners. Scary people for sure.

Posted by John on December 24, 2012 15:17

Wow there are some unforgiving people on here today. Children are the future of any country and most precious and need to be protected from some of life's scenes. Are you both forgetting he is 7, yes 7 not 17! He has not committed a life sentence crime and therefore does not need to be scared senseless. He should be returned to his Grandma or family and taken away some privileges like computer games for two weeks or so, that will make him think. No physical punishment.

Posted by Happy Farang on December 24, 2012 15:49

Some of you forgetting, he did not steal 10 or 20 baht! For 6000 baht, lots of people have to work 20 days!
And in case no one is be able, to take care these kids: House of correction is the best way, to take care them, then!
Kids learning quickly: oh, I got a 'don' do that again' but that was it.
But that's many times the same, even adults getting here, on top of the 500 baht fine. Only! So what to expect?

Posted by Anonymous on December 24, 2012 17:06

Yeah send him to youth jail where they'll make sure he's welll trained in the art of theft and brainwashed in this macho crminal culture before he leaves. Just what Phuket needs. An hour visit with the real criminals ought to scare him enough to not EVER wanna go back. It worked with friends of mine. They were 15 though. They weren't turned into angels but they didn't do anything that would mean jail time. Maybe somebody could impress on G'ma that she needs to keep a closer eye on him.

Posted by James on December 24, 2012 21:02

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