Indian tourists arrested in Pattaya for stealing camera battery

Pattaya Tourist Police apprehended two Indian tourists on their first day in Thailand for allegedly stealing a camera battery and then strolling along Walking Street.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensan, Chief of Pattaya Tourist Police, along with other officers, arrested yesterday, September 5, at 5.16am two Indian nationals, identified as 29 year old Abhishek and 28 year old Akash (surnames withheld).

The arrest came after a complaint by 34 year old Shaik, also from India, at the Pattaya Police Station. Shaik reported that his camera battery pack had been stolen at a cannabis shop located on Walking Street.

Shaik entered the cannabis shop and placed his camera’s battery pack on a sofa while browsing products. Three fellow Indian tourists then entered the shop.

The suspects noticed the battery on the sofa, with one reportedly sitting on the item to cover it while the other discreetly slipped the battery into his bag. The suspects then left the shop and continued to stroll along Walking Street as if nothing had happened.

Pattaya Tourist Police, stationed on Walking Street, were informed of the alleged theft by the Pattaya Police Station and swiftly reviewed CCTV footage from the shop and along the suspects’ escape route. They soon discovered that the thieves had not fled but were walking leisurely not far from the incident scene.

Upon realising they were about to be arrested, the suspects attempted to return the stolen battery, claiming it had been dropped and they were intending to return it. However, the officers remained unconvinced. The suspects were taken to the Tourist Police Station, where, after being confronted with clear CCTV evidence, they reportedly confessed to the crime.

Both suspects, who had only arrived in Thailand a day earlier, were taken into custody along with the stolen camera battery, valued at around 5,000 baht. They were then handed over to the Pattaya Police Station for further legal proceedings, reported Pattaya News.