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.
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.
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.
