Police Arrest Suspect in Mercedes Theft Using Swapped Keys, GPS
Police arrested a 42-year-old suspect in Nonthaburi for a planned Mercedes theft where a gang posed as buyers, swapped keys, and used a GPS tracker to steal the car.
On November 2, 2026, Tha Kham Police Station investigators, under the command of Pol. Lt. Col. Samart Promchat, Superintendent of Division 9, along with Pol. Col. Thirachai Detkhat, Pol. Col. Wutthichai Thaiwat, Pol. Col. Thitiphong Siya, and Pol. Col. Wichayanont Ekta-asang, arrested Nattasit, 42, on a Thonburi Criminal Court warrant for theft at night using a vehicle to facilitate the crime. He was caught at his 7th-floor condo room on Bond Street in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi.
The case began when Pricha, 44, reported his black Mercedes E250 CGI Saloon with Bangkok plates stolen from his home on Soi Anamai Ngam Charoen 25, Yaek 2, Thung Khru, around 2:38 AM on October 22. Investigators examined CCTV footage and traced the stolen car to the Muang Thong Thani area in Nonthaburi, where the license plates had been swapped. The vehicle was later seized at the Ta Pun Police Station parking lot on the Bangkok-Nonthaburi Road in Bang Sue. Also seized were 43 items from the suspect's room, including license plates, registration documents, chassis parts, and two Bangkok plates matching the stolen Mercedes.
Pol. Lt. Col. Samart revealed the gang planned the theft after spotting the victim's online sales ad. Posing as a buyer on October 17, the thief inspected the car, swapped the two keys with lookalikes, and secretly installed a GPS tracker. He pretended to finalize the purchase but never returned. At 2:38 AM on October 22, an accomplice used the swapped key to steal the car and handed it off to another member. Investigation shows at least three people worked as a team: one to pose as buyer, swap keys, and install GPS; one to drive the car away; and Nattasit, who received the car and changed the plates himself.
