Britons accused in heist attempt

Two British men have been arrested for attempting to pull automated teller machines out of the wall of a bank branch in Chon Buri's Sri Racha district on two occasions, while a third Briton remains at large, police said yesterday.

The suspects used ropes, a metal hook and two different vehicles to pull the machines out of the wall early on the mornings of June 21 and June 28, but were unable to open them or take money out because alarms were activated and nearby residents came out to look, forcing them to flee, police said.

Alexander Milbourn, 25, and Shaun Edward Tracy, 34, reportedly confessed to the crime after being arrested on Thursday. They told police they had lived in Thailand for more than 10 years and decided to commit the crime because they had run out of money. The third suspect was unidentified.

An informed source reported that police received a tip that the suspects had purchased tools at a local hardware store. A check of the shop's securitycamera footage turned up images of the two foreigners. Police traced their truck's licence plate to a carrental outlet in Pattaya, leading to the arrests.

Bor Win police station chief Pol LtColonel Surapol Kijyakanon said the case appeared to be unrelated to an attempt to steal an ATM on June 14.