Police hunt six youths for stealing pickup truck to escape from juvenile facility
Police are hunting six youths who allegedly stole a pickup truck to flee a juvenile detention centre in northeast Thailand.
The six male detainees allegedly cut through the bars of their cells and waited for staff to open the facility's gates in Nakhon Ratchasima,in the early hours of July 16.
They fled on foot before reportedly stealing an Isuzu pickup truck near the Ratchasima Witthayalai School, around half a mile away from the detention centre.
The youngsters were believed to have fled through Mittraphap Road.
Police tracked the vehicle to the Noen Sa-nga district in Chaiyaphum province, where it was found abandoned hours later.
Authorities said checkpoints have been set up along the suspected escape routes as a manhunt was launched for the young fugitives.
One of the escapees was reportedly from Nakhon Ratchasima while the other five are from Chaiyaphum. He allegedly led the escape.
Police Major General Narongsak Phromtha, commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, said officers have recovered the stolen pickup truck and were tracking down the boys.
He added: 'We have already located the pickup truck they stole and used to escape.
‘It was abandoned in Noen Sa-nga district, Chaiyaphum.
‘We are now searching for the six youths to bring them back into custody.
‘As for the motive behind the escape, we cannot yet conclude whether it was due to homesickness or other reasons.
‘We need to detain all of them first and conduct an investigation to determine the motive.'
