A man was apprehended in connection with the theft of a mobile phone from a foreign tourist The incident took place near the intersection by the Pattaya Blind School on Soi Naklua 16, where 34-year-old Russian tourist Ms. Aisylu Karimova had her phone stolen by a young Thai man.
The suspect, believed to be between 18 and 20 years old, initially approached Ms. Karimova with a friendly demeanor, inquiring about her stay in Thailand and offering to show her around Pattaya. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly snatched her phone and fled. Ms. Karimova chased the thief and sought assistance from local residents, who directed her to the Banglamung Police Station to file a report. Working closely with the police, she reviewed CCTV footage and participated in the search, which led to the suspect’s arrest at a rental room on Pattaya-Naklua Road.
The suspect, identified as Rungtawan S, confessed to the crime. He explained that he worked as a sound system technician but had recently lost around 130,000 baht to online baccarat gambling. Desperate for money to fund his gambling habit, he turned to theft.
The police recovered the stolen gold-colored Infinix mobile phone, valued at approximately 15,000 baht. Deputy Superintendent Pol. Lt. Col. Kornpong Sukhawisit noted that Rungtawan was not a career criminal but had acted out of desperation. Following a thorough investigation and review of CCTV footage, the police successfully located and arrested Rungtawan. He has been charged with theft and will face legal proceedings.
