Pattaya– A 23-year-old grocery store owner in the Pattaya area has released sharp CCTV footage showing a thief who broke into his shop in the early hours, making off with cash donations for monks, two mobile phones, a bottle of liquor, cigarettes, water and even nearly two kilograms of rambutans.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:14 a.m. on July 17th 2026 at a small convenience store located in Soi Department of Lands 6. The owner, Mr Nonthawat Prasong, told reporters he discovered the theft after reviewing his security cameras.
According to the footage, the suspect, a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts and carrying a shoulder bag, appeared disheveled as he approached from the side of the shop. The area was only loosely covered by tarpaulin and a simple awning, with no solid wall. The intruder calmly ducked under the covering and entered the store.
Once inside, he went straight to a donation pot used by villagers for merit-making contributions and carefully removed all the banknotes, taking around 200 baht. Spotting the CCTV camera, he then pulled his shirt up over his head to conceal his face before continuing to loot the premises.
Items stolen included a Redmi Note 7 smartphone, an Infinix smartphone, one bottle of white liquor, two packets of cigarettes, several bottles of drinking water, and approximately two kilograms of rambutans.
Mr Nonthawat said he never expected anyone to enter through the open side of the shop, as it had never happened before. While the total value of the stolen goods is not high, he expressed serious concern for safety.
“I live inside the shop, and sometimes my older sister stays here alone,” he said. “This has left me feeling very uneasy.”
He also appealed directly to the thief, warning that such crimes pose a danger to society. “Today you were lucky no one was around to confront you,” he said. “But if you break into another house where the owner fights back, it could turn violent and someone could get hurt or even killed.”
Mr Nonthawat has filed a complaint with Pol Lt Bworrakrit Boonman at Pattaya City Police Station, submitting the CCTV footage as evidence. Police are now working to identify and arrest the suspect.
