Detectives investigating the 30 million baht gems heist in Phuket City said this afternoon they believe the wanted suspects are Canadians. According to police, the rented vehicle used in the getaway is now in Patong, from where it was rented by a Thai woman.


PHUKET: Police have blocked the road off Phuket to try to capture a woman and two men - all believed to be foreigners - who made a clean getaway with 30 million baht in jewellery from Phuket City today.

The gems belonged to a jewellery retailer from Bangkok who was on Phuket for a week-long dispay at Central Festival, a large shopping mall not far from the main Phuket Big C in Phuket City's Bypass Road.

Tongsak Jidtakanlern, 46, told police he parked his Toyota Avanza in the street behind Big C about 11am today and went to have lunch.

Then he heard the alarm from his vehicle and emerged to see the three thieves making off in a grey Toyota Vios with two bags containing the gems.

Investigating officers believe the thieves are professionals to have pulled such an audacious daylight raid. Forensic police were checking the scene today.

They believe the gang probably tailed Khun Tongsak and noted his habits over the period of the jewellery fair, which began on May 10 and is due to conclude on May 16.

Security camera footage is being traced but officers already believe they have some shots of the gang tailing Khun Tongsak on Sunday.

Khun Tongsak has a gem making business in Bangkok's Silom Road. He was staying in an apartment block behind Big C.

Just last week, Phuket police were able to close a case involving a 5.7 million baht jewellery heist. The perpetrator made his raid on Phuket last year in the fourth of a series of robberies.

Krittisak ''Den'' Hedkeaw, 25, used the 11 million baht in proceeds to indulge a luxury lifestyle that ended when Bangkok police raided his apartment.