TWO COLOMBIAN who are allegedly members of a transnational criminal gang – which had stolen valuables worth Bt22 million from luxury homes in Bangkok – were arrested at a shopping mall in Sukhumvit Soi 77, police announced yesterday.

The burgaled houses included residences of a public prosecutor, a judge, a customs official and other well-to-do people

Christian Robeldo Donne and Gresson Joan Hernadez Gomez, both 27, were allegedly part of a four-member team that cracked safe boxes at luxury homes in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces on nine occasions in March and April.

They reportedly got away with valuables worth Bt22.193 million, including 62.84 grams of gold bars and 70 gold ornaments, said acting Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn.

The gang used two sedans to scout targets at large housing estates, mostly during the daytime. They would press the doorbell to test if the house was unoccupied at the time before breaking in and cracking open safes to look for valuables, Sanit said.

The police team that investigated several theft cases linked to this gang spotted them on security-camera footage in Don Muang and Tha Kham districts.

Their actions were closely followed, and evidence gathered, before arrest warrants were sought for them from the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court.

The two suspects were apprehended while allegedly carrying stolen gold ornaments, while their Thai female friend was also captured. Two other Colombian gangsters, including the leader identified only as Rodriguez, managed to flee. The Thai woman, who remained unamed, also faced a charge of possessing stolen items.

Sanit said the fugitives abandoned one vehicle used in the crime in Pattaya.

The two suspects were brought for interrogation at the city police office while some of their victims came to identify their stolen items and to file complaints against the duo, Sanit added.

They now face charges of theft, breaking into houses at night, using getaway vehicles, and having in their possession stolen items.

Sanit said the gang was more afraid of alarms than security cameras, so homeowners should consider installing such systems or find someone – a worker, neighbour or police – to monitor their houses.

He said police would hunt for the two fugitives and would also contact an international delivery-service firm so they could watch out for criminals because the gangsters reportedly sent some stolen items back home.