Phuket No 1 in mid-South for vehicle theft
PHUKET: Despite its small size, Phuket province has more vehicle thefts than in the nearby, much bigger provinces of Surat Thani, Ranong, Chumporn and Phang Nga.
Saturday 10 September 2011, 08:04AM
The Director of the Phuket Investigation Division, Pol Col Ekkawut Sanehporn reported in a press conference at Muang Phuket Police station on September 7, that so far this year, 26 cars and 95 motorbikes had been stolen.
A total of 62 people were arrested for vehicle theft in the same period.
In July, Patong police accepted the surrender of a woman responsible for more than half the car thefts. Cherry Piwsa-ard rented 14 cars, one after the other, then sold them to buyers in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for Thanawut Khunmeun and Naruthai Klinnin on charges of stealing cars in much the same way as Cherry.
Cars that are rented and then sold are usually bought by people who know they are stolen, and who modify or repaint them before selling them on.
Police believe that cars stolen in Phuket are sold not only within Thailand but also to buyers in neighbouring countries, particularly Myanmar.
Motorbikes tend to be stolen by teenagers for their own use or to be broken down into components that are resold.
The Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Police Pol Lt Gen Rapeepat Palawong said police need to focus on preventing car thefts. They must also keep a closer look-out for smuggled cars on which import tax has not been paid.
