Flashermac Posted October 30, 2016 Report Share Posted October 30, 2016 PHUKET — When Tawatchai Namwong discovered his wallet was missing from his songtaew recently on Phuket, he took matters into his own hands. Now, six days later, an Englishman is behind bars after Tawatchai’s amateur sleuthing put together what happened and led him to the suspected thief. More importantly, he has his wallet back, though he admits it was more about seeking justice than recovering property. “I can’t believe someone was this evil,†Tawatchai said, declining to say how much – or little – was in the wallet. “It may not be a lot of money to some people, but it’s a lot to me.†It all began Saturday morning when the driver stopped at a Family Mart near Karon beach to buy some water for his shift. When he realized his wallet was missing, Tawatchai drove back to the convenience store to see the security footage. The manager was out, so he had to wait until Tuesday. With that the 45-year-old driver went around checking other CCTVs in the area until he found what he was looking for: the license plate number of the Honda Jazz seen in the Family Mart tape. Footage allegedly shows Walter Bates driving up to Tawatchai’s vehicle on Saturday in order to rob him. It was a rental. Tawatchai handed over the evidence to the police, but he wasn’t done. He continued his investigation by visiting the rental shop, where he was told a foreigner had rented the vehicle but already returned it Sunday. The shop didn’t have his identification – only the name of a hotel. But there was none with that name. Sure enough, in the footage, he saw a foreign man in a gray hoodie and yellow trucker hat drive up to his truck, get out, grab his wallet and take off. With that the 45-year-old driver went around checking other CCTVs in the area until he found what he was looking for: the license plate number of the Honda Jazz seen in the Family Mart tape. It was a rental. Tawatchai handed over the evidence to the police, but he wasn’t done. He continued his investigation by visiting the rental shop, where he was told a foreigner had rented the vehicle but already returned it Sunday. The shop didn’t have his identification – only the name of a hotel. But there was none with that name. Instead of giving up, Tawatchai visited other hotels in the area until, sure enough, by Wednesday he turned up one Aaron Walter Bates, a 27-year-old Englishman. With that, he went public. Tawatchai posted the CCTV footage of his truck being robbed and asked for help. It wasn’t long until someone called and told him Bates had rented another car due back in Patong that night. It was time to call in the police. Officers called the rental shop and asked them to stall Bates and keep him in the establishment. They soon arrived and took Bates into custody Still, Tawatchai was not done. He wanted the suspect to know who had got him – and why. “I opened the CCTV video on my phone and showed it to him in the backseat, using the rear view mirror,†said Tawatchai, who was riding in the police vehicle with Bates. “I wanted him to see what he had done. Police now believe Bates was responsible for a string of similar robberies. He has denied any wrongdoing. The first rental place soon gave a positive ID that he was the same person who rented the Honda Jazz used in the crime. Police also found Tawatchai’s identification card, driver’s license, motorcycle license and public health care card in his possession. “I went back to the police station after he confessed, and saw those four cards lying there,†Tawatchai said. “My money and wallet were gone, however.†Tawatchai is planning to sue Bates for further damages. “I couldn’t work for four days, I couldn’t drive my [songtaew] for customers,†he said. “I live hand-to-mouth, and the economy is quite bad too.†Bates regularly visits Thailand and lives in Patong with his boyfriend, Col. Sanya Tongsawat said. A search of their house also turned up an ATM card that didn’t belonging to them, Sanya said, leading them to believe Bates may be guilty of multiple felonies in both the Patong and Karon areas. For now, Bates has been charged with vehicle-assisted robbery and is being held in the Karon jail. http://www.khaosoden...g-stole-wallet/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo_bill Posted October 30, 2016 Report Share Posted October 30, 2016 In defense of the British Empire I recommend the British Ambassador in Siam to issue an official bulletin saying that the excellent Mr. Bates is an illegal immigrant of Burmese origin . Personally I am of the opinion that a 28 year old subject trying to survive by robbing Thai songtaew-pilots should better throw himself into the next available dustbin , close the cover and wait for the garbage truck . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted October 30, 2016 Report Share Posted October 30, 2016 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annabella_Lwin a more acceptable off spring from the empire days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My Penis is hungry Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 I love Bow Wow Wow, how do you rent a car in Phuket with no identification? Would seem to be absolutely impossible and dumb of the car rental to do so. Unless???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My Penis is hungry Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 And Happy Brithday to Annabelle, its her birthday today! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 I want Candy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 Trick or treat ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasathai1 Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 sounds like he is better than the police at solving a crime 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baa99 Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 One for the Phuket songtaew mafia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasathai1 Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 how much will he claim is missing from the wallet ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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