Phuket cops have arrested a man and seized goods worth over THB1 million after several credit cards were stolen from foreign tourists to buy smartphones and other gadgets.
Pithawat Akkarathitiwirakul, 53, who goes by several other aliases including Chit Akkarathitiwirakul, Kawang Faipet and Anuchit Faipet, was caught with five stolen credit cards, Bangkok Post reported.
The cards had been used to buy items including 13 smartphones, two iPads and THB180,000 worth of cigars.
The cops were alerted to the unusual credit card transactions by a bank and tracked Pithawat to a Tesco Lotus.
They arrested him after a brief car chase, although his driver Rakrop Darunphan escaped.
The police investigation revealed that a gang was stealing credit cards from foreigners’ travel bags, and handing them to Pithawet and other members to buy goods at malls.
The goods would then be resold and the gang would split the profits.
Police are hunting Rakrop and the rest of Pithawat’s accomplices.
Photo: Reuters
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