PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya police have apprehended a 28-year-old Cambodian man, identified as Mr. Chid Jan, for robbing a Russian tourist, Miss Daria Smirnova, also 28, in a swift operation just hours after the crime. The incident occurred at 8:06 PM on July 28, 2025, in Soi Chalermphrakiat 14, where the suspect, riding a motorcycle, threatened the victim with a screwdriver and stole her bag containing approximately 5,000 baht in valuables.
Following the robbery, Pattaya City Police, led by Pol. Col. Anek Sarathongyoo, Pol. Lt. Col. Arun Suphanon, Pol. Lt. Col. Suradet Imjai, and Pol. Lt. Col. Thanet Saenghiran, mobilized a rapid response team. By 4:30 PM on July 29, 2025, authorities arrested Mr. Chid Jan in Soi Sukhumvit 71, recovering the stolen bag and other evidence, including the suspect’s clothing, a screwdriver, and the motorcycle used in the crime.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect attempted to flee upon spotting officers but was quickly apprehended due to a well-coordinated encirclement. During questioning, Mr. Chid Jan confessed to the robbery, citing desperation due to unemployment and inability to support his wife and child in Cambodia. He claimed that repeated job rejections, linked to tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, drove him to borrow a motorcycle and target a vulnerable tourist in a secluded alley.
Miss Smirnova praised the Pattaya police for their efficiency, noting that they recovered her stolen property within hours. She expressed confidence in Pattaya’s safety as a tourist destination.
Mr. Chid Jan faces charges of robbery and has been handed over to Pattaya City Police investigators for legal proceedings, along with the recovered evidence.
