Police have arrested a 41-year-old man who first appeared to be helping at the scene of a road accident, but then took off with the car driver's 6-million-baht wristwatch and diamond ring.
Police of the Crime Suppression Division arrested Pongdet Lewtrakul at his room in tambon Bang Phun of Muang district, Pathum Thani, on Wednesday night. They also impounded a 6-million-baht white Richard Mille 233 watch, a diamond ring and the clothes he wore on the day of the theft as evidence.
Pol Col Boonlue Phadungthin, a CSD superintendent, said on Thursday that Mr Pongdet had arrived on his motorcycle at the scene of an accident where a Mercedes-Benz had hit another motorcycle at a U-turn in front of the Phun Sap market in tambon Ban Klang of Muang district on the late night of Sept 13.
The car driver was helping the injured motorcyclist and waiting for emergency responders. Mr Pongdet offered to be a witness for the Mercedes-Benz owner and gave him his phone number.
After the injured motorcyclist was taken to hospital, the car owner found that his bag was missing from the middle of the back seat of his vehcle. It contained a Richard Mille 233 watch and a diamond ring. There was also no sign of Mr Pongdet.
The car owner phoned Mr Pongdet, who denied any knowledge of the bag or its contents. He did not answer later calls.
Pol Col Boonlue said that Mr Pongdet, who worked at a coffee shop in Pathum Thani, confessed to the theft. He had been freed from prison in Phrae province in late 2016 after being convicted of theft and also prosecuted in a narcotics case.
