CityNews – Police have arrested a 36-year-old man they believe is responsible for a string of thefts from cars, including the theft of a policeman’s gun.
Krittidech, wearing an orange vest with the word ‘suspect’ written on it, after his arrest. Photo: Panyachod Weerasak.
Krittidech Naretphanuphat, originally from Lamphun province, is accused of breaking into cars by smashing their windows. Most of the thefts occurred in the Hang Dong and Sarapee areas.
On October 13, police were informed that someone had broken into three cars parked outside a restaurant in Chiang Mai’s Tha Wang Tan sub-district. One of the cars belonged to a policeman, who reported that his gun had been stolen.
After studying CCTV footage and finding a car believed to have been used by the thief, police arrested Krittidech, who was released from prison in 2010 after serving a two-year sentence for theft.
Officers searched the fertiliser shop where he works and found many stolen computers. Krittidech confessed to stealing from at least six cars. At first he used stones to smash the windows, he told police, but later used screwdrivers and crowbars.
He said he threw the stolen gun into the Ping river in Lamphun province because he was afraid.
Krittidech will be prosecuted. Anyone who believes he may have stolen from them can check the items seized by police at Sarapaee police station.