Phuket –
Police have arrested a man who brazenly used a power tool to cut open coin boxes on washing machines outside an apartment building in Wichit, stealing thousands of baht in coins before casually saluting the security camera.
The wichit Police told the Phuket Express that on the night of February 19th, around 1:00 a.m., CCTV captured a man wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet approaching three coin-operated washing machines located in front of an apartment near Surakul Stadium.
The suspect plugged in a steel-cutting tool, known locally as a “piglet,” to a nearby socket and began slicing through the metal coin boxes. Despite the loud noise, he continued undisturbed, eventually making off with more than 2,000 baht in coins.
The thief turned to the surveillance camera and raised his hands in a wai before fleeing the scene. The apartment owner discovered the theft the following morning and filed a complaint with the Wichit Police Station.
Police reviewed CCTV footage along nearby roads and traced the suspect to his residence. Officers set up surveillance and later apprehended a man matching the description.
The suspect, identified only as Mr. Apisit, 32, from Kathu, was taken into custody. He has a criminal record including assault and drug use, and police believe he may be linked to similar thefts in the area. Investigators noted he had previously carried out a comparable coin-box raid in Kathu, stealing about 1,000 baht.
Authorities are now expanding the investigation to determine whether Apisit is connected to other unsolved cases.
