Not-so-crafty plan sees fakeshop owner take Bt10m diamond

Police are seeking an arrest warrant for the prime suspect in the blatant theft of a diamond worth Bt10 million.
The suspect, identified only as Ae, managed to get hold of the expensive stone after posing as a jewellery trader but once he had the stone in his hands on Tuesday afternoon, he fled on a waiting motorcycle in front of his fake shop. 
Diamond owner Jain Vaiphav, 44, was so shocked to see Ae jump on a motorcycle and leave him behind in the locked shop in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district that he smashed a glass panel to get out and run after him. But by then it was too late and he was just in time to see Ae and his getaway rider flee on their bike.
“This suspect has changed his first name and surname several times. He has also used many phone numbers. 

All are being registered by someone else, apparently because he wants to use those numbers for illicit purposes,” a source said. 
 Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said on Wednesday that Ae must have had at least one accomplice. “We can identify the owner of the diamond because the stone has been issued a certificate,” he said. 
He said Ae had tried to commit a similar crime in Nonthaburi two years ago but failed. 
This time, he boosted his credibility by setting up a fake jewellery shop and lured an Indian businessman to hand him the gem during purchase negotiations.
Police say that Vaivphav, who sustained a 20-stitch gash on his arm, had previously advertised the diamond for sale on a website. They suspect this had given the offenders the idea to steal it.