Pattaya Motorcycle Snatcher Caught After CCTV Hunt

Pattaya Motorcycle Snatcher Caught After CCTV Hunt

PATTAYA, May 16, 2026 — Police in Pattaya have arrested a Thai man accused of snatching a bag containing about 1,000 euros from a Belgian tourist, with the suspect allegedly telling investigators he committed the robbery to pay an unpaid bar bill.

Officers from Bang Lamung Police Station detained 33-year-old Natthaphong Phongsi shortly after midnight on Friday at a restaurant in the Na Kluea area.

Police said they seized cash, the motorcycle allegedly used in the robbery and clothing believed to have been worn during the incident.

According to investigators, the robbery took place earlier in the evening in Soi Na Kluea 12, where the suspect allegedly rode past and snatched a shoulder bag from a Belgian woman before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.

The stolen bag reportedly contained foreign currency worth around 1,000 euros, equivalent to about 40,000 baht.

Police launched a rapid investigation using witness statements and CCTV footage along the escape route.

Investigators said footage showed the suspect exchanging the stolen foreign currency at a money exchange booth in North Pattaya before changing clothes and later visiting a local restaurant, where officers tracked him down and arrested him.

During questioning, Natthaphong allegedly confessed to the robbery.

Police said the suspect claimed he had been drinking with friends earlier that evening when a bill of about 3,000 baht arrived for food and drinks. He allegedly told investigators his friends left without paying, leaving him unable to settle the bill.

According to police, the suspect said he panicked and decided to target foreign tourists in order to obtain money quickly.

Authorities said the suspect remained in custody and would face legal proceedings in accordance with Thai law.