In the bustling heart of Bangkok, a thrilling tale of a motorcycle sale transformed into a chaotic dance of crime and escape unfolded on a fateful January evening. This riveting saga began on January 22, when 19-year-old Kittinan and his audacious band of four accomplices orchestrated what they thought would be the perfect motorcycle sale—until it spiraled into attempted murder and motorcycle theft.
As the clock struck 6:57 PM, the scene was set at the serene Wat Maprao Tia in Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen district. Here, the unsuspecting victim, a hired driver on a mission to collect a purchased motorcycle, was about to find himself in the eye of a brewing storm. With the payment transferred, the air buzzed with anticipation as he commenced loading the motorcycle onto a pickup truck. Little did he know, Kittinan and his cunning crew had other plans.
The supposed transaction took a sinister turn as resistance from Kittinan’s group sparked a heated confrontation. Amidst the tension, a shot rang out—thunderous and shocking—striking the victim in the abdomen. The precious seconds that followed saw him fleeing the scene, his survival instincts guiding him to safety, until he was whisked away to Siriraj Hospital for urgent care. Meanwhile, Kittinan and his accomplices revved their motorcycles, vanishing into the night with the prized bike.
The aftermath was a whirlwind of police investigations and unwavering pursuit. On January 24, a copious warrant was issued by the Thonburi Criminal Court. By January 26, with Law Enforcement prowess akin to a chess master closing in on checkmate, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team cornered Kittinan in Pattaya’s renowned Wat Pak Nam Fang Tai, capturing the fugitive with methodical precision. The confession came easily at the Bang Sao Thong police station, where Kittinan admitted to the shooting, sealing his fate with charges of attempted murder and firearm offenses. KhaiSod reported the arrest, offering a compelling photo that captured the dramatic closure.
This escapade was not the lone criminal pursuit of the month. The very skies seemed to pulse with tales of two-wheeler transgressions. A Phetkasem patrol unit pounced on a 37-year-old man mid-mischief as he swapped license plates on another stolen motorcycle just weeks prior on January 12. The whimsical map of Bangkok seemed littered with stories more electrifying than a lightning storm.
Further down the rabbit hole of criminal TV news, the Royal Thai Police were hot on the trail of a digital-age peccadillo. In Pathum Thani, a collection of brash youths were detained for casually posting their roadside shooting exploits on social media—a far cry from the clandestine shenanigans of yore. In a twist of technicolor irony, they’d procured their firearm through a mere messaging app, propelling the narrative of crime into the future’s digital realm.
As the city of Bangkok awoke each day to a new chapter of daring tales and law enforcement victories, these incidents—though chilling—added yet another strand to the complex tapestry of Thailand’s urban folklore. And while the streets witnessed the shadows of crime, they also bore witness to the relentless pursuit of justice, where officers morphed into heroes and strategic arrests unfolded as public spectacles worthy of a dramatic retelling. Indeed, in the city of angels, even the crime sagas bore an unsettling allure, reminding all that sometimes the most gripping stories are not found in books, but lived through in the pulse of a city’s night.
Bangkok sounds like a scene out of a crime novel lately. It’s hard to believe how brazen these criminals are getting!
It’s not surprising really. The way laws are enforced differently in various parts of the world makes a huge difference.
True, but you would think that with such high-profile arrests, they’d wisen up.
Seems like the perfect setting for an action movie. I just hope this all doesn’t embolden more people to think they can get away with it.
I’m impressed by the police work here. Catching Kittinan was no simple task. A win amidst a rather grim tale.
This whole story sounds like something out of ‘Fast & Furious’ but with bikes. People need to be more aware when dealing online.
Totally agree Tommy! The internet is a risky place, but people forget because it’s so convenient.
Selling a bike shouldn’t end with someone getting shot. That’s just insane. What are kids thinking these days?
It’s heartbreaking to see such young lives thrown away over theft and impulsive violence.
Unfortunately, desperation and thrill-seeking often lead to tragic decisions.
Some need better role models. The fame of social media ‘gangsters’ isn’t helping.
What about the poor driver who got shot? He was just doing his job!
He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thank God he’s alive.
Thailand used to be peaceful. Has something changed recently?
The growing influence of social media heroes and easy access to illegal things is definitely a factor, Rachel.
It’s crazy everywhere now, not just Thailand.
These people better realize real life isn’t a video game! One wrong move can ruin lives.
Agreed, but the adrenaline can be intoxicating. Reality checks are necessary.
Digital age crimes are a whole new territory. Kids today seem to think posting crimes online is cool.
Exactly. They’ve forgotten about the implications of those bragging rights.
Parents need to get involved in educating kids about internet safety too.
It baffles me that a crime like this can happen in such a public place.
Public or not, desperation makes criminals bold.
Public places often give a false sense of safety.