A group of thieves who stole the bag of an Uzbek tourist at Patong Beach early this morning didn’t manage to get far, as police tracked them down and arrested them in under an hour.
The 21-year-old victim, Xhayrdonion Zafarugu Khanotion, reported the theft at 3 a.m. on February 5. His waist bag, containing his phone, passport, credit cards, motorcycle keys, and US$1,000 (around 33,000 baht), had disappeared while he was seated nearby.
A swift investigation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Sinchai Sukkhi, led officers to a 7-Eleven on Ratchapathanusorn Road, where the suspects were caught red-handed.
The arrested individuals were identified as Anlus Chankaew, 24, from Krabi; Anuwat Damrongrat, 23, from Phuket; and Aung, a 21-year-old Myanmar national. Authorities recovered an iPhone 16 Pro Max, an iPhone 14 Pro, various credit cards, a black shoulder bag, and a red Honda PCX motorcycle belonging to the victim.
During questioning, the trio admitted to stealing the bag around 4:20 a.m. and using a vehicle to make a quick escape. They face charges of jointly stealing property at night using a vehicle to facilitate the crime or evade arrest.
Police also urged tourists to be cautious and keep their belongings secure, especially in crowded areas.
In related news, a 52-year-old Turkish man, Mustafa, was robbed of 73,000 baht by a transgender individual on Pattaya Central Road. This marked the third such incident in the week. Mustafa reported that his wallet, containing 500 euros and US$1,200, was stolen after a transgender woman approached him on a motorcycle and engaged in conversation. Despite declining her offer of services, she hugged him before quickly fleeing, leaving him to realize his wallet was gone.
