Mongolian pickpocketers arrested before fleeing country

Three Mongolian men have been arrested and faced theft charges one day before they planned to leave Thailand, police said on Thursday. Tourist and Metropolitan Police Bureau police said Indermaa Ganbold, 31, Okhinsuren Bayarsaikhan, 39, and Tseddenbal Oyunbold, 34, were apprehended in Pathumwan area on Wednesday in an operation that included BTS skytrain staff. Mr Ganbold was captured at the Chit Lom Lom station. His arrest led to the roundup of the rest at an undisclosed location. 

Tourist police show a chart displaying the arrest of three Mongolian pickpocketers during a media briefing on Thursday. (Tourist Police Division photo) 

Cash of 100,000 baht in many currencies, including the baht and South Korean won, were seized by police. 

The arrest followed a complaint by a Korean tourist that he had lost his wallet with four credit cards and 50,000 won in cash at the BTS Phloen Chit station on July 25. 

Police tracked the gang from the footage of BTS security cameras and finally found Mr Ganbold. 

Two more members of the gang left the country on July 26 with five iPhone X phones bought with the credit cards of the Korean visitor to be sold in their country. The arrested three planned to return to Mongolia on Thursday.

Authorities interrogated them and said they had targeted foreign tourists, especially at BTS stations or crowded areas at department stores, because they were unlikely to report to police. 

The charges carry a fine up to 100,000 baht and/or a jail term up to five years. 

Source:Bankgkok Post