Police have arrested
eight boys and two girls, all 16 -17 years old, and a gold shop owner
for their involvement in a series of gold and amulet robberies.
Boonlua Chatree
Police arrested 10 teenagers and shut down a Soi
Buakaow gold shop believed to have stocked its shelves with stolen
necklaces and amulets.
Region 2 police commander Lt. Gen. Punya Maamen and
Pattaya police Superintendent Col. Thummanoon Mankhong announced the
arrest of the eight underage boys and two girls May 1. All the suspects
were 16 and 17 years old.
Also arrested was Chanida Suparam, 47, the owner of
the Mangkorn Thong gold shop. A police raid turned up 11 gold necklaces
and 59 amulets. However, Chanida had no records of any gold purchases
since 2008.
Investigators allege that the 10 teens cruised
Pattaya at night, using motorbikes and a car with no license plates to
snatch gold necklaces, backed up by a handgun when necessary. At dawn,
police alleged, Chanida would open her shop to buy the stolen gold at
cut rates.
The gold shop owner was charged with receiving stolen
property and various license offenses. The teens were charged with armed
robbery and illegal weapons possession.
