Phuket –
Police in Chalong have successfully arrested a notorious thief known as “Santi” (alias), who allegedly stole a safe containing more than 1.3 million baht from a Russian resident’s home in Chalong. Despite disguising himself as a Grab delivery rider and attempting to destroy evidence by dumping the safe into a mine pit, the suspect was captured after a week‑long investigation.
The Chalong Police told the Phuket Express that the case began on April 11th, when a foreign homeowner in Banyan Villa reported a burglary attempt. The victim confronted the intruder and was able to remember his face. Just days later, on April 16th, another burglary was reported in the same neighborhood, where the suspect took advantage of the Songkran holiday to steal a safe filled with cash.
Investigators, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Chayakorn Tangsakul, discovered that the suspect had carefully planned the crime, using a motorcycle to scout the area while concealing his identity with a Grab jacket and helmet. After stealing the safe, he smashed it and threw the remains into Chao Fah Mine in Wichit, while hiding the cash at his residence.
Police spent more than a week gathering evidence before arresting “Santi,” who initially denied the charges but later confessed under mounting proof. His criminal record revealed multiple prior thefts, and he was already on bail with an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Further searches of his home led to the recovery of over 800,000 baht in cash. Divers were also deployed to retrieve the destroyed safe from the mine. On May 7th, police returned the recovered money to the Russian victim, who said it had been set aside for his grandchild’s school fees. He expressed gratitude to Thai police for their dedication, noting that the recovery restored his confidence in Phuket’s safety.
Authorities confirmed they will continue investigating possible accomplices and track down the remaining stolen assets. Police also urged residents to secure their homes and valuables, especially during holiday periods, to prevent similar incidents.
