Police have arrested a Singaporean man and are seeking two others for allegedly stealing high-end cars to smuggle out of the country.
Tan Pei Nam, 27, was apprehended June 25, a day after allegedly taking possession of a Nissan GTR r35 stolen from Hotel J the day before. Thitipan Kaeyanon, 28, manager of Bangkok radio 88.5 FM, reported the car stolen after he left the keys in the sports car while partying.
Police have arrested Singaporean Tan Pei Nam for his connection with the theft of a Nissan GTR r35 stolen in Pattaya.
Tan denied any involvement in the theft, police said. The Singaporean claimed to only be responsible for taking the car and newly faked registration papers over the border and on to Singapore.
Police allege Tan is part of a ring operating in Thailand targeting expensive cars. They are currently looking for the Singaporean car thief and his Thai partner.
Police said the Singaporean thief, identified only as “Nicholas” had been following Thitipan, looking for an opportunity to steal his 9 million baht ride.
Thitipan told police he and four friends came to Pattaya June 24 to attend a car-enthusiast party at Hotel J and had left his Nissan under the guard of hotel security. Following the show, he went with a friend to a club, leaving his keys in the ignition of the sports car, which remained at the hotel.
A hotel security guard said he saw an Asian man take the car, but paid little heed as he assumed it was the owner.
Security cameras caught the theft, but not a clear image of the thief. Police tracked down the vehicle after it was reported parked at Tan’s accommodations.
