Phuket - Hotel thieves nabbed at airport

[dirtydog]

Hotel thieves nabbed at airport

MAI KHAO: A 20-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl were arrested at Phuket International Airport January 10 while in possession of more than 250,000 baht worth of Swiss francs and a digital camera they had stolen from a Swiss couple staying in Patong.

Duty Inspector Pol Lt Col Pisit Chunpet, of Kathu District Police Station, said that the thieves, who he declined to name, were from Bangkok and arrived in Phuket January 7.

They checked into the Grand Tropicana Hotel, but checked out about 7 pm the same day and checked into Patong Beach Bungalows, where Hanh Rudolf Burkhard, 58, and his wife were also staying.

About 9 pm on January 9, Mr Burkhard and his wife went to eat dinner, but when they returned to their bungalow shortly after midnight, Col Pisit said, they found that it had been broken into and a 13,000-baht digital camera and the key to their safe in the hotel reception had been stolen from a drawer.

The thieves had used the key to steal 8,340 Swiss francs (about 240,000 baht) and US$5 (approximately 180 baht) from the safe in the hotel’s reception. The receptionist who allowed the thieves to open the safe told police that he thought the couple were staying in the room since they had the key, Col Pisit said.

Police were identified the thieves on the hotel’s closed-circuit camera recordings, and searched the thieves’ room, where they found a backpack still bearing airport security stickers which contained a photograph of the man.

“After seeing the airport security stickers, I deduced that the culprits had probably flown here,” said Col Pisit. “I therefore sent the picture to police at the airport and told them to be on the lookout for the pair.”

Police at the airport arrested the suspects just after 9 pm January 10. They were taken to Kathu District Police Station, where they both were charged with theft.

Col Pisit said that he found a digital camera and the 8,340 Swiss francs stolen from Mr Burkhard’s safe in their baggage, along with 75,000 baht in cash. Mr Burkhard’s money and camera were returned to him the same day.

Col Pisit said that the pair admitted that they had stolen the money from Mr Burkhard and also confessed to breaking into a room while staying at the Grand Tropicana.

The couple said that they had also stolen an ATM card and the pin number, which was written down next to the card, and used it to withdraw cash before destroying the card, Col Pisit added.

Phuket Gazette

[klongmaster]

Police were identified the thieves on the hotel’s closed-circuit camera recordings, and searched the thieves’ room, where they found a backpack still bearing airport security stickers which contained a photograph of the man.

very sporting of him....and to think if he gone back to Bkk by bus or train he would have got away with it...

[klongmaster]

A 20-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl ...checked into the Grand Tropicana Hotel, but checked out about 7 pm the same day and checked into Patong Beach Bungalows

Now if the guy was a farang the story would have been about the pedo sharing the same room with a 14 year old girl...as they were Thai no mention of pedophilia...just about the theft...

[dirtydog]

^ Why is a hotel allowing adults to check in with 14 year old girls?

[klongmaster]

^must be easy if you're Thai cause they actually checked into two hotels in the same day...