Police began rounding up homeless people along Cha-am beach as part of a drive to prevent crimes such as the brutal murder in Hua Hin, where the detention of the suspect was extended on Thursday.
The two tourist towns about 200km south of Bangkok have been shocked by the robbery and killing of a hotel receptionist early Monday in downtown Hua Hin. The murder suspect was arrested the following day.
On Wednesday night, administrative officials, police and security volunteers in Cha-am teamed up to search the district to round up homeless people. They searched alleys and tourist spots including the popular beach.
In one deserted building, they found a homeless man from the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Officials handed him over to social welfare officials, who plan to give him occupational training so that he can get a job and would not be homeless.
Meanwhile, the Hua Hin Provincial Court on Thursday extended the detention of the murder suspect for 12 days as police continue to gather evidence in the murder of the female hotel receptionist.
Rattikorn Yingyod is accused of using a steel pipe to repeatedly strike the head of Wirin Thaolipo, 35, a front-desk receptionist at a hotel in Soi Hua Hin 88/1.
The crime occurred at about 3am on Monday while the receptionist, a mother of three children, was sleeping at her counter. The murderer, who was caught on CCTV, stole her two mobile phones and wallet.
