Led by Thalang Police Chief Col Sompong Tipaphakul, the tripartite squad arrested 26-year-old Weerachai Singniew from Songkhla at the Top Inn Garden hotel at 3:30pm.
Police seized from Weerachai B3,560 in cash, a 28cm knife, a Honda Click motorbike as well as a pink sweater and other clothes identified as used in carrying out the robberies.
“Weerachai was arrested after he robbed a Family Mart store in Baan Lipon this afternoon (June 1),” Col Sompong explained.
“The staffer on duty at the store said that he threatened her with a knife before emptying the cash register. He stole B4,380 and sped away on an orange-black motorbike toward the Heroines Monument and she saw him turn left toward Pa Khlok.
“The suspect was wearing a pink sweater and black pants. The employee also gave us the getaway motorbike’s license plate number,” he added.
Col Sompong said that officers recognised Weerachai from CCTV of two other robberies carried out at knifepoint over the previous four days.
“After seeing the CCTV footage from the other robberies, we were sure that this man also robbed a store in Patong on May 28 and in Karon on May 31,” said Col Sompong.
“The Phuket Provincial Court had already issued arrest warrants for both of those robberies,” he added.
Police checked CCTV footage along the suspect’s known escape route from the robbery yesterday, leading them to Weerachai at his rented room in Pa Khlok.
Weerachai was taken to Thalang Police Station where he was charged with robbery using getaway vehicle and carrying weapon (a knife) into a public place without a permit.