Police have arrested two British men on charges of trying to steal money from three ATMs after they ran out of money during their lengthy stay in Pattaya.
Police arrested Alexander Milbourn, 25, and Shaun Edward Tracy, 34, who were hiding at a house in Soi Thep Prasit in south Pattaya.
The duo and a third man were responsible for trying to steal money from ATMs at three bank branches on June 14, 21 and on Thursday in Si Racha district of Chon Buri, police said.
The suspects fastened the ATMs to a vehicle with a rope to pull them off the wall into which the machines were built.
However, they failed to get any money from the machines.
The third suspect, whom police identified only as Richie, is still at large. He is believed to have fled from the house before the police raid.
Investigators said the gang used both pickup trucks and a rented saloon car to try to yank out the ATMs.
The first place they hit was Bangkok Bank's Bo Win branch. Its ATM machine was heavily damaged by their attempt.
The other two attempts were at Bank of Ayudhya's branches at Laem Chabang and Pak Ruam.
The suspects could not remove the cash from the ATMs they pulled out because they did not know how to open them, Chon Buri police chief Chamnong Rattanakun said.
The suspects fled after alarm bells rang, he said.
Police investigators tracked down Mr Milbourn and Mr Tracy after following a lead from a shop selling construction materials in Si Racha district.
Police evidence had confirmed that the suspects had used the kind of tow ropes sold only at a local shop selling construction materials.
The shop owner said he sold the ropes to two foreign men. Police then established the suspects' identities from footage obtained from surveillance cameras installed near the shop.
The two suspects came to Thailand as tourists and have stayed in Pattaya for more than 10 years. Police said one pickup used to yank the ATMs was registered in the name of Mr Milbourn's father, who has returned to England, and that both suspects speak fluent Thai.
Police arrested Alexander Milbourn, 25, and Shaun Edward Tracy, 34, who were hiding at a house in Soi Thep Prasit in south Pattaya.
The duo and a third man were responsible for trying to steal money from ATMs at three bank branches on June 14, 21 and on Thursday in Si Racha district of Chon Buri, police said.
The suspects fastened the ATMs to a vehicle with a rope to pull them off the wall into which the machines were built.
However, they failed to get any money from the machines.
The third suspect, whom police identified only as Richie, is still at large. He is believed to have fled from the house before the police raid.
Investigators said the gang used both pickup trucks and a rented saloon car to try to yank out the ATMs.
The first place they hit was Bangkok Bank's Bo Win branch. Its ATM machine was heavily damaged by their attempt.
The other two attempts were at Bank of Ayudhya's branches at Laem Chabang and Pak Ruam.
The suspects could not remove the cash from the ATMs they pulled out because they did not know how to open them, Chon Buri police chief Chamnong Rattanakun said.
The suspects fled after alarm bells rang, he said.
Police investigators tracked down Mr Milbourn and Mr Tracy after following a lead from a shop selling construction materials in Si Racha district.
Police evidence had confirmed that the suspects had used the kind of tow ropes sold only at a local shop selling construction materials.
The shop owner said he sold the ropes to two foreign men. Police then established the suspects' identities from footage obtained from surveillance cameras installed near the shop.
The two suspects came to Thailand as tourists and have stayed in Pattaya for more than 10 years. Police said one pickup used to yank the ATMs was registered in the name of Mr Milbourn's father, who has returned to England, and that both suspects speak fluent Thai.
