NONTHABURI — Four Chinese nationals who entered Thailand on tourist visas have been arrested for burglarizing a Canadian woman’s home in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. The suspects made off with an entire safe containing valuables worth 600,000 baht (approximately $18,530).
Mrs. Julie, a Canadian citizen, filed a police report at Pak Kret Police Station on July 30 after discovering the theft. She had been vacationing in Koh Samui with her family from July 20-30, and upon returning home, found that the safe from her second-floor office in the Nichada Thani housing development had been stolen. The safe contained approximately $18,530 in cash and various documents.
Police investigation revealed CCTV footage showing the burglars breaking into the Canadian woman’s home on July 26 at around 7:00 p.m. The suspects climbed over the side fence to enter the property and escaped the same way after the theft, fleeing on motorcycles.
By tracing the suspects’ route, police discovered they had ridden motorcycles from their accommodation in Phasson 21 Village on Phattana Chonbot Road, Khlong Song Ton Nun, Lat Krabang district, Bangkok, at approximately 3:23 PM. They switched motorcycles during the operation and returned to their residence around 9:53 PM after completing the burglary.
Pak Kret Police gathered evidence and obtained a search warrant from the Criminal Court on August 3 to search the suspects’ residence, working alongside Immigration Police Region 1. The operation resulted in the arrest of four Chinese men: Mr. Liu (35), Mr. Ya (48), Mr. Li (34), and Mr. Wei (37).
Police seized 31 items of evidence, including 20 Thai 1,000-baht notes, 121 Turkish 200-lira notes, 64 Syrian 5,000-pound notes, 8 mobile phones, 2 motorcycles, clothing used during the crime, a blue safety helmet, 2 TAG Heuer watches, a ladder, and burglary tools.
The four suspects face charges of conspiracy to commit theft at night using vehicles to facilitate the crime or escape, and receiving stolen goods. The second suspect faces an additional charge of illegal entry into Thailand as his tourist visa had expired.
Immigration Police Region 1 officials discovered that this Chinese group had frequently entered and exited Thailand over an extended period as tourists. Authorities are now investigating whether they committed similar crimes in other areas.
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