Jiradech “Dech” Sae-Ong went to police after his red Honda Civic was hit in the windscreen and back door by two blocks, as he drove through the Talad Neua district of Phuket Town on his way to dinner with a friend.
A third of the potentially deadly missiles missed Mr Dech’s car and hit another, a Honda City, whose owner also reported the incident to police.
Police officers led by Pol Capt Wirat Tanthong found three of the cement blocks in the road where the attack happened. Unfortunately, they also discovered there are no CCTV cameras in that area.
Mr Dech said he wants the attack on him to be regarded as a “case study” and wants all departments to understand the importance of CCTV coverage.
“If there was worse damage, it could cause serious injuries or even death,” he said. “And if the gangsters threw one of these blocks into a restaurant full of people, or at a tourist, what we are going to do?”
In the past few years there have been a number of similar attacks in different parts of Thailand, including Trad, Ubon Ratchathani, Prae, Chiang Rai, Kampaengpetch, Bangkok and especially Ayutthaya where gangs attacked not only cars but also trucks and trains.
Some cases resulted in deaths, including that of well-known comedian Somchai “Jo” Janjua, killed in 2004 when a large stone was flung through the windscreen of the minibus in which he was a passenger.
Five members of a gang calling themselves “Chata” (literally, “birthday”, but used only in reference to dead people) were arrested for murder.
The Phuket News understands that this is not the first such attack in Phuket in recent months. The gang concerned apparently targets modified cars like Mr Dech’s.