The arrests came after an 18-year-old woman from Patong, whom police declined to name, reported that she had lent her rented motorbike to a friend who wanted to go shopping. The friend and the motorbike did not return, so she reported to police that it had been stolen.
Soon after, she received a call from someone calling himself Berm Patong, demanding B1,500 if she wanted the bike back.
Fearing violence, she went to meet the bikenapper with the owner of the shop on Soi Kebsap, Patong, from whom she had rented the bike.
The bikenappers, thinking the owner was a police officer, ran away, and the bike was recovered.
An hour later the woman received another call from Berm Patong demanding the money “owed” him, and threatening violence if she did not pay up.
She agreed to a second meeting but this time police lay in wait at the meeting point on Soi Ton and pounced on three teenagers, who admitted they worked for Berm.
Police also learned that there were six in the gang, and got the arrested pair to lead them to the gang’s HQ.
When they got to the house they were spotted and the three other gang members bolted, leaving just an 18-year-old girl with a baby in the house, along with crystal methamphetamine and a bank book that showed a balance of B800,000.
Police are now looking for the missing gang members.