Japanese national Hiroyuki Goto, 40, a frequent visitor to Thailand, has been arrested in Chon Buri province and will be extradited to Japan to face charges of stealing luxury-brand products worth 50 million yen from city apartments in a crime spree lasting 20 years.
Pol Maj Gen Itthipol Itthisanronnachai, deputy commissioner of immigration police, said on Thursday that Mr Goto was arrested on Aug 27 in response to a request from Japanese police.
He was wanted under an arrest warrant issued in Fukuoka prefecture.
Mr Goto had entered Thailand 13 times since Sept 27 last year, Pol Maj Gen Itthipol said. His latest arrival was via the Thai-Lao friendship bridge in Nong Khai province on July 29.
The man was suspected of breaking into city apartments in Japan to steal luxury-brand products for resale. Over a period of 20 years he allegedly stole goods worth about 50 million yen (about 14 million baht).
Under questioning, Mr Goto had confessed to the burglaries in Japan but denied breaking any laws in Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Itthipol said.
Police would look closer into this, because he had visited the country so often. The suspect would later be returned to Japan, he said.
