Obsessed Man Demolishes Shop After Being Rejected
A man arrested in Chanthaburi after destroying a grocery store and vehicle worth nearly 200,000 baht had repeatedly pursued the shop owner romantically before she rejected him. Police say he has a history of violent property destruction tar
On July 24, authorities inspected a grocery store in Laem Sing District, Chanthaburi, after a man destroyed merchandise and property. Shop owner Ms. Saowaniton, 53, reported that her neighbor Phuriwaht had been pursuing her romantically, but she repeatedly declined his advances due to being a widow. Security camera footage from July 23 at 11:14 a.m. documented Phuriwaht singing outside the shop before the rampage, during which he kicked and scattered merchandise, smashed refrigerator glass, threw bottles at a parked pickup truck, and damaged its exterior extensively.
Phuriwaht returned to continue destroying property, kicking shelves and hurling fruit and vegetable trays while appearing mentally unhinged. He casually drank beverages and poured water on his injured left foot before continuing his destruction. Ms. Saowaniton said Phuriwaht had shown jealousy on previous occasions, once throwing vegetables at her 25-year-old son who defended her. On the day of the incident, his behavior was more severe after being ignored.
When officers from Laem Sing Police Station arrived, Phuriwaht was still destroying property and refused to stop. Police subdued and arrested him. Total damages reached 199,100 baht, including a gray Toyota Revo pickup (40,000 baht), storefront doors and windows (100,000 baht), refrigerated display cases (50,000 baht), a folding steel table (4,000 baht), beverages (600 baht), and other items. Neighbors noted Phuriwaht is extremely dangerous; he previously demolished his sister's multi-million-baht house in Prachuap Buri and destroyed five-room shophouses near the victim's shop, forcing his elderly parents to flee their home.
