PHUKET: Santa usually leaves gifts under Christmas trees but an expat resident must have been thinking ''Ho ho ho'' as he stole from Phuket homes this Yuletide season, according to Phuket police.
The man, a 35-year-old Russian, is to be presented to Phuket's media on Boxing Day after being arrested early on Christmas Day by police from Kamala, a beach destination north of Patong.
As Kamala police station coped with a power blackout tonight, an officer told Phuketwan that a raid on the man's home at 7am on Christmas morning produced ya ice crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and a treasure trove of allegedly stolen goods.
The allegedly stolen goods included four iPhones, iPads, Air Mac laptops, large Apple laptops, jewellery, diamond rings, and a golf bag. At least four expats have already visited Kamala Police Station to check stolen items.
Police believe the man's method was to focus on homes where parties were being held, then go through open doors late at night or early in the morning to steal.
Although the accused man admitted the drugs were his, he denied the thefts. However, a man who was robbed in Kamala on Christmas Eve identified his iPad and other stolen items at the police station today.
The accused thief - also blamed for thefts in the southern Phuket district of Chalong - has another problem: his visa expired a long time ago, say police.
There's anecdotal evidence that Santa takes no account of visa regulations around the world, but he has so far proved difficult to apprehend in the act of breaching the rules.
The man, a 35-year-old Russian, is to be presented to Phuket's media on Boxing Day after being arrested early on Christmas Day by police from Kamala, a beach destination north of Patong.
As Kamala police station coped with a power blackout tonight, an officer told Phuketwan that a raid on the man's home at 7am on Christmas morning produced ya ice crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and a treasure trove of allegedly stolen goods.
The allegedly stolen goods included four iPhones, iPads, Air Mac laptops, large Apple laptops, jewellery, diamond rings, and a golf bag. At least four expats have already visited Kamala Police Station to check stolen items.
Police believe the man's method was to focus on homes where parties were being held, then go through open doors late at night or early in the morning to steal.
Although the accused man admitted the drugs were his, he denied the thefts. However, a man who was robbed in Kamala on Christmas Eve identified his iPad and other stolen items at the police station today.
The accused thief - also blamed for thefts in the southern Phuket district of Chalong - has another problem: his visa expired a long time ago, say police.
There's anecdotal evidence that Santa takes no account of visa regulations around the world, but he has so far proved difficult to apprehend in the act of breaching the rules.
There are thousands of young Russians living in Phuket now, none of them apparently "gainfully employed". I wonder how they actually earn the living? Take a walk anywhere in Patong at night and it's obvious how the young Russian women make their living; but as to the men, I don't even want to think about it.
Posted by Henry on December 25, 2011 21:02