Khon Kaen authorities yesterday arrested a man for allegedly using Google Maps Street View to break into over 100 houses and steal valuables exceeding two million baht.
The suspect, identified as Thotsawat Lert arayakul, 22, a Nakhon Ratchasima native, was apprehended at his apartment in Muang district.
Police also impounded a motorcycle, a mobile phone, gold ornaments, electrical appliances, diamond rings, watches and over 140 valuable items worth more than two million baht. According to the Provincial Police
Region 4 commissioner Pol Lt Gen Boon- lert Jaipradit, an investigation was launched a after a number of luxury housing estate resi- er dents in Muang district lodged burglary al and theft complaints with police last week.
Local authorities examined CCTV foot- at age, collected fingerprints and also ques- a tioned several pawnshop operators. They t found a number had bought personalprop- erty from the same group of men numer a ous times
Police concluded that all of the burgla d ries were by the same person, and arrested n Mr Thotsawat. Officers said the man confessed he had e been looting houses since March last year,
targeting only those in luxury estates where occupants rarely stayed home and had fixed schedules for leaving and returning.
Mr Thotsawat admitted to using Google Maps Street View to inspect homes before each robbery, adding that most modern housing estates feature low-level walls and fences, police said. He said he gave 'stolen valuables to four accomplices to sell to pawn shops. The accomplices remain at large.
Pol Lt Gen Boonler said Mr Thotsawat took only five to 10 minutes to break into targeted houses as he had experience work- ing in aluminum and mirror shops and knew how to remove louvres and latches.