Udon thani: Police have apprehended a group of teenagers involved in multiple thefts at a Buddhist amulet stall in Udon Thani city.
According to Thai News Agency, this group was responsible for robbing the stall four times within a month, with the most recent incident occurring on January 16th. The stall owner, Mr. Isara Puk, was taken aback as the perpetrators were frequent customers, including the arrested suspect, Mr. Mongkol, also known as Jack.
CCTV footage captured at 3:53 AM on January 16th showed a suspect in a long-sleeved hooded shirt stealing amulets from the "Lakkhita" stall on Theparak Road. Despite a siren and the sound of an intruder alerting the scene, the intruder continued his search for valuables before calmly leaving. A similar burglary took place on January 2nd, where a hooded individual stole five Buddha statues. The burglaries followed a pattern, leading the owner to believe they were committed by the same person. The stolen amulets, including Luang Pho Phra Bucha and Sukhothai-style images, are valued at several hundred thousand baht.
Following an investigation by the "Pirun" unit of the Udon Thani City Police Station, Mr. Mongkol was arrested at his accommodation. Evidence seized included five Buddha statues, a motorcycle, and clothing worn during the thefts. The suspect admitted to the crimes, citing financial struggles as his motive. He described his previous employment at a nearby fermented pork sausage shop, where he rented and resold amulets for profit. After quitting his job without another source of income, he resorted to theft to cover personal expenses and rent.
During the initial theft, Mr. Mongkol sold five Buddha statues for 3,000 baht. Subsequent thefts included stealing and selling additional statues, though he was unable to sell the most recent batch before his arrest. Fearful of capture, he discarded the stolen items. The suspect has been charged with nighttime theft, although he denied involvement with drugs.
In a surprising twist, Mr. Isara decided not to press charges against Mr. Mongkol, despite the substantial financial loss of 300,000 baht. During a visit to the police station, Mr. Mongkol expressed remorse, bowing and apologizing to Mr. Isara, who forgave him. Some of the stolen statues have since been recovered.