Pattaya, Thailand-
In the early hours of this morning, December 12th, on Second Road near Soi Yensabai, a foreign tourist fell victim to a daring snatch theft. The event was reported at approximately 00:36 AM to R.T.T. Akkraphong Saenputawong, the deputy investigation officer at Pattaya City Police Station.
The victim, identified as Mr. Merlin Dhanapalan, an Indian national, along with a friend, were riding their motorcycles on Second Road when they were accosted by thieves. According to Mr. Dhanapalan, a foreign individual and a foreign passenger, whose nationality remains unidentified, approached him on a motorcycle and aggressively snatched his gold necklace valued at around 210,000 baht (56 grams). During the theft, the perpetrators’ motorcycle toppled, leading to a scuffle. Despite the victims’ attempts to resist, the thief managed to escape after righting their bike while the passenger fled on foot.
Upon arriving at the scene, police found Mr. Dhanapalan and his companion visibly shaken. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras, which showed two tall, foreign-looking suspects, dressed in long-sleeved shirts and pants, with their faces concealed by balaclavas. The footage depicted the struggle during which one thief fled on foot while the other quickly recovered the fallen motorcycle to escape.
Pol. Lt. Akkharapong Saenputawong, along with a team from Pattaya City Police, conducted a preliminary investigation at the site. The officer reviewed the CCTV footage and interviewed the victims to gather more details. The police are now intensifying efforts to trace the culprits, using the video evidence and other clues from the scene.
The Pattaya City Police Station has assured the public that they are committed to apprehending the suspects and bringing them to justice. They encourage anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
