The curtain of mystery surrounding the persistent series of thefts in the Sai Noi community in the Nonthaburi province close to Bangkok has lifted when the mastermind behind the deeds was finally apprehended. Relentless pursuance from the Sai Noi Police Station staff bore fruit in the form of a successful arrest warrant executed on August 10 after an exhaustive search spanning a challenging three-year period. The slippery suspect, now known as Mr. Nattawut Jirawatwanich, aged 54, deftly averted law enforcement officers by exploiting policing strategies he gleaned from YouTube videos.
For the past three years, the tranquil neighbourhood residents witnessed a chain of theft incidents, each more audacious than the last, all pointing towards a singular miscreant. The mystery unraveled when earlier this month, on August 6, two high-end houses in the locale became the thief’s latest victims. Nattawut’s streak of luck ran out when the authorities nabbed him at his place of residence—a condominium situated within the vicinity. An array of pilfered valuable items was recovered from his possession, including a silver ring, exquisite timepieces, valuable amulets, and much more.
Police reports brought to light Nattawut’s calculated modus operandi—he operated exclusively under the cover of darkness and engaged in elaborate role-play. By masquerading as various local professionals—a gardener, a farmer, a frog farm proprietor, a fisherman, among others—he gleaned valuable information from his unsuspecting victims and skillfully deflected any suspicions from himself.
Unmasking his motives during his confession, Nattawut revealed his penchant for the lottery. The spoils of his illicit activities were squandered away on lottery tickets that ranged from 20,000 to 30,000 baht each time. He also admitted to switching his attire and vehicles for every crime he conducted—a trick he picked up from YouTube tutorials about police operations, which he found insightful and instrumental in evading capture.
The arrest, however, provided more questions than answers for the investigating authorities. The officer in charge expressed doubt about Nattawut being the lone wolf in this chain of crimes, considering the frequency and ease with which he changed his cars and costumes. The officer reassured that their investigation would continue in-depth and unyielding to uncover any accomplices that might have aided Nattawut in his nefarious activities.
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