Police confirmed the arrest of Thu Rain San on Tuesday (Jan 20) in the Saphan Ruam 1 community, on the east side of Phuket Town, along with three Honda motorcycles recovered as evidence.
The arrest followed a complaint filed with Phuket City Police Station earlier that morning after a series of motorbike thefts were reported.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and identified a male suspect, before receiving a tip-off from local residents who saw him riding a motorbike into the Saphan Ruam community.
Officers later found the suspect at the community’s multipurpose pavilion. During questioning, he admitted to stealing the motorbikes and led police to where they had been hidden in roadside bushes. All three motorbikes were recovered and taken to Phuket City Police Station.
Police said Thu Rain San confessed to committing the thefts to obtain money for daily living expenses, claiming he was unemployed and homeless and had been sleeping at the pavilion. He also admitted to drug use.
He has been charged with driving under the influence of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine), illegal consumption of a Category 1 narcotic, illegal entry into the Kingdom, and theft committed during both daytime and night-time using a vehicle.
The suspect confessed to all charges and was handed over to investigators at Phuket City Police Station for further legal proceedings.