Heavy Drinker Arrested for Stealing Beer from Convenience Stores
A 46-year-old man was arrested at Bangkok's Central Station for stealing beer from convenience stores in Nonthaburi by hiding bottles in a backpack and paying only for ice. The repeat offender, who struggled with alcohol addiction after a f
On August 1, 2025, police led by Deputy Commander Theerachat Theerachatdhamma ordered the arrest of Kanthaphum (aka Aek), 46, based on a Nonthaburi Court arrest warrant issued March 28, 2024, for nighttime theft. Officers arrested him at Bangkok's Central Station.
The suspect committed theft at a convenience store on December 18 and 19, 2567 by posing as a customer. He placed a backpack in a shopping basket, removed beer from a cooler and hid it in the backpack, then positioned the bag near an ice cooler near the exit. He purchased only ice at checkout using cash, then retrieved the backpack and left without paying for the beer.
Store staff discovered the thefts through CCTV footage and found the suspect attempted the same scheme a third time in the same month. Security recognized his face from previous footage and confronted him until he confessed. Investigators learned he had targeted multiple nearby convenience store branches with identical methods, prompting store managers to warn each other via group chat.
While being processed for fingerprinting, the suspect requested a bathroom break and attempted to flee. Officers later tracked him traveling from Southern Thailand back to Bangkok and arrested him again. During this second arrest, he again tried to escape by requesting bathroom access and offering to take out garbage, but officers remained vigilant.
Under interrogation, the suspect admitted that in late 2567 he opened a papaya salad shop in Muang Thonburi that failed. Struggling with severe alcohol addiction, he decided to steal beer from convenience stores, timing his thefts during busy customer periods to avoid detection. He was transferred to Pak Kret police station for legal proceedings.
