Pattaya —
A desperate young Thai man was arrested in Pattaya after allegedly robbing a female Russian tourist to fund his gambling addiction.
At 9:00 PM on September 2nd, 2024, Pattaya Tourist Police apprehended a theft suspect, identified as 21-year-old Mr. Rungtawan Sakaew, in front of a rental room along Pattaya-Naklua Road. Mr. Rungtawan was suspected of robbing a Russian tourist and was found in possession of the stolen item, including a gold-colored Infinix mobile phone valued at around 15,000 baht.
According to a police report, a Russian woman, 34-year-old Ms. Aisylu (surname withheld by police), reported to Banglamung Police around 10:30 AM on September 2nd that she was robbed near an intersection by the Blind School in Soi Naklua 16. The perpetrator, a Thai male teenager, approached her, pretending to be friendly, and asked how long she had been in Thailand. The alleged thief then offered to show her around Pattaya to distract her before snatching her mobile phone and fleeing the scene.
Following the robbery, Ms. Aisylu chased after the suspect and sought help from local residents. A Good Samaritan then assisted her in reporting the crime to the Banglamung Police Station. Determined to retrieve her phone, and having only been in Pattaya for four days, Ms. Aisylu cooperated with the authorities by reviewing CCTV footage and assisted in the manhunt, which eventually led to the suspect’s capture at the rental room.
Mr. Rungtawan, the suspect, confessed that he works as a sound system assembler. He admitted that he had lost his entire life savings of about 130,000 baht due to online gambling. Desperate to fund his gambling habit, he decided to commit the robbery.
The suspect has been charged with robbery and will be prosecuted according to Thai law.
