Armed with a warrant issued earlier yesterday, officers arrested Wiwat Homhwan, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, at a rented room in Soi Kraisart in Rassada at 10:45pm last night (Mar 4).
Police seized a Honda Scoopy motorbike, B10,140 cash, a pocket knife, his motorbike helmet and items of clothing that match those worn by the robbery during the robberies.
Lt Col Krisana Yadkam of the Phuket City Police explained that his officers picked up the suspect’s trail after Chalong Pharmacy on Chao Fa West Rd was robbed just before 10pm on Thursday (Mar 3).
The robber made off with B7,820 cash. Staff told police the robber was 20-25 years old and gave a description of him.
“The robber was last seen speeding away on a blue-white Honda Scoopy, heading toward Chao Fa East Rd,” said Col Krisana.
The description of the motorbike was critical to the police getting their breakthrough.
“We were sure then that the robber was the same wanted suspect that robbed Samkong Pharmacy in Phuket Town on February 28, who got away on a Honda Scoopy with a Trang license plate,” Col Krisana said.
The officers then tracked down the suspect by checking CCTV and questioning people.
“Which led us to a where we found Wiwat and confronted him with the CCTV footage,” Col Krisana explained.
“Wiwat confessed to us that he robbed both places,” Col Krisana added.
Wiwat was taken to Phuket City Police Station to be charged charged with armed robbery after dark using get away vehicle.