The suspect, named by police only as ‘Knot’, was taken into custody on Thursday evening (May 1) at a rented room on Komaraphat Rd in Phuket Town, just several hundreds metres from the headquarters of the Phuket City Police and the Phuket Provincial Police.
Police say the man posed as a food delivery rider on a black M-Slash motorcycle, approaching restaurants and pretending to order food before asking vendors for cash, promising to transfer money in return.
He then fled with the money and failed to follow through with any payment.
One incident, which took place in mid-April at a somtam restaurant on Damrong Rd, involved Knot ordering B300 of food and asking the vendor for B700 in cash, claiming he would transfer back B1,000.
When the vendor agreed, Knot allegedly took the cash and drove off as the vendor’s attention was diverted. Knot reportedly repeated this scam at numerous locations, with more than 10 victims filing police complaints.
According to investigators, Knot frequently changed accommodations to avoid arrest, never staying at his own home. He was finally tracked down after an informant tipped off police about his location at the rented room
Officers moved in on Knot’s rented room at around 7:30pm. with the help of the informant, who knocked on the door and called out to Knot.
When Knot opened the door, police arrested him and presented an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court on Apr 25 on charges of theft committed with the use of a vehicle.
Knot confessed to the crimes, telling officers he used the stolen cash to buy crystal meth (ya ice). A urine test later confirmed drug use, and an additional charge was filed.
Phuket City Police Chief Pol Col Chatree Chueakaew has ordered that the suspect be denied police bail and instructed investigators to oppose any future bail request to prevent further offenses.
The motorcycle used in the scams was seized as evidence, police confirmed.