Bangkok: Police commandos arrested a young man for repeatedly stealing beer from convenience stores. He claimed to have a heavy alcohol addiction. He was caught on CCTV, but ultimately escaped from the police station by pretending to need to use the restroom. He wasn't caught in the act!
According to Thai News Agency, police from the Special Operations Division arrested Mr. Kantapoom, or Ek, 46, a resident of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, on charges of "theft at night," pursuant to two arrest warrants issued by the Nonthaburi Provincial Court. The arrest took place at the Bangkok Central Station in Chatuchak District, Bangkok.
The case stems from the theft committed on December 18-19, 2024, at a convenience store in The Lake Muang Thong Thani. The suspect used a method to evade detection by posing as a customer, placing a backpack in a shopping basket, then putting beer and ice into the bag before paying for them. The suspect then left the store without paying for the beer hidden in the backpack. After reviewing CCTV footage, store employees discovered the same method used in both thefts.
On December 20, 2024, the suspect returned to the store with the intention of committing the same crime again. Store employees questioned him about the previous theft, to which the suspect admitted. The employees then took the suspect to the investigating officer to proceed with legal action.
During the investigation, officers also discovered that the suspect had committed similar thefts at a convenience store on Born Street, Muang Thong Thani, on December 14th and 16th, 2024. Therefore, the investigating officers charged the suspect with theft and larceny. The suspect confessed to all charges. However, while being escorted to have his fingerprints taken, the suspect requested to use the restroom and escaped from officer custody. A manhunt is underway to apprehend him and bring him to justice.
Subsequently, authorities investigated and learned that the suspect had fled to the southern region and was traveling back to Bangkok. They then deployed forces to intercept him and successfully apprehended him at Bangkok Central Station. During the arrest, the suspect attempted to use his usual tactic of requesting to use the restroom, which was denied by the officers.
Initially, the suspect confessed to all charges, claiming that he had previously run a roadside somtum (papaya salad) stall on Born Street in Muang Thong Thani but experienced poor sales and a lack of income. Compounding the problem, he was a heavy alcoholic and decided to steal beer and food to survive. He admitted to committing these thefts several times during busy periods. The suspect was then handed over to investigators at Pak Kret Police Station for further legal proceedings.