KHON KAEN — A 60-year-old Dutch man was arrested early Sunday morning after stealing an entire ATM machine in downtown Khon Kaen following a heated argument with his Thai wife.
Residents were shocked to discover the foreign suspect attempting to break into a Siam Commercial Bank ATM outside the Sri Sawat store on Maliwan Road in Ban Thum subdistrict. But instead of just accessing the cash inside, the man loaded the entire machine onto his pickup truck.
Police from Ban Ped Station found drag marks stretching 20 meters from where the ATM had been bolted down to where his black Mazda pickup was parked. Using security camera footage, officers quickly tracked down the suspect, identified only as Mr. S from the Netherlands.
The bizarre theft stemmed from years of mounting financial pressure. The Dutch national had moved to Thailand six years ago and invested roughly 10 million baht in a restaurant business with his 37-year-old wife Waraporn on Prachasamran Road, where the couple also lived.
But as their restaurant struggled and money ran short, arguments became frequent. On Saturday night, another fight erupted over their financial troubles. The frustrated husband stormed out, telling his wife he was driving to visit friends in Nong Khai province. She didn’t think much of it until police called the next morning.
“The wife had no idea what her husband was planning,” said a police source. “She only learned about the ATM theft when we contacted her.”
Forensic teams collected fingerprints from both the stolen ATM and the pickup truck, while bank representatives filed formal charges. The suspect now faces multiple counts including nighttime theft, property damage, and using a vehicle in the commission of a crime.
He faces 1 to 7 years imprisonment with the sentence potentially increased by half due to vehicle use, meaning he could face up to 10.5 years in prison plus fines of 2,000 to 14,000 Baht. The court will consider factors like his cooperation, prior criminal history, and the specific circumstances when determining the final sentence within these ranges.
Police have denied bail during the ongoing investigation.
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