Laotian tourist’s 80,000 baht gold necklace stolen in Pattaya

Emerging from the nocturnal charm of Pattaya, an intriguing tale of a Laotian tourist and a vanished 80,000 baht (US$2,150) gold necklace has surfaced. The unfortunate incident unfolded early this morning, May 1, along the bustling Sukhumvit Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province.

The victim, Detnakhon Inthakoummane, a 37 year old Laotian national, recounted his ordeal to the Pattaya police. His evening began with an enjoyable drinking session with friends at a bar in South Pattaya. However, as the night advanced, the merry gathering scattered, each heading back to their respective accommodations.

Despite the prudent advice from his companions to avail public transport, Detnakhon decided to amble along the roadside. Overwhelmed by fatigue, he eventually succumbed to slumber on a footpath beside the street.

The dawn of the new day brought with it a rude awakening. Detnakhon was taken aback to discover his two-baht-weight gold necklace was nowhere to be found. Promptly, he lodged a complaint with the Pattaya police and requested to inspect the nearby CCTV footage.

The footage unveiled a sequence of events that left Detnakhon startled. It captured a tall, lean man, ostensibly clad in a motorcycle taxi vest, stopping his motorcycle to scrutinise the sleeping Detnakhon before riding off. This mysterious figure then reappeared after a while, this time minus his vest. The man approached Detnakhon, conducted a search of his body, and allegedly made off with the gold necklace.

In the aftermath of the incident, Detnakhon implored the police to speedily apprehend the suspect. He expressed his hope for swift justice and for the culprit to face the legal consequences of his actions.

The theft of gold necklaces is not an anomaly in Pattaya, with numerous foreign tourists, particularly Indians, narrating similar incidents. In May of the previous year, several Indian tourists were victims of necklace thievery, purportedly at the hands of transgender individuals in Pattaya on the same night, reported The Pattaya News.

In light of such occurrences, the police urge tourists to refrain from flaunting expensive jewellery in public spaces and to exercise caution, especially when under the influence of alcohol.