Tuk tuk theft: driver steals American tourist’s money and valuables

Police arrested a tuk tuk driver who stole money and belongings from an American tourist last month. The thief sped away from the scene with the victim’s possessions, worth over 40,000 baht.

The American victim, James Anthony Viafore, filed a complaint at Chakkrawat Police Station on August 30, reporting that he lost all his money and belongings to the Thai tuk tuk driver. He could only recall that the driver operated a dark blue and yellow tuk tuk, but he could not remember the registration plate.

Viafore explained that he took the tuk tuk from Phaya Thai BTS Station to Soi Mangkorn in the Samphanthawong district of Bangkok. They agreed on a fare of 500 baht, so Viafore handed a 1,000-baht banknote to the driver upon arrival.

Unexpectedly, the tuk tuk driver took the money and sped away from the scene. Viafore did not receive his 500-baht change and also lost all his belongings and valuables, which were packed in a bag, to the driver.

The stolen items included his passport, US$500 (approximately 18,000 baht), accessories worth 5,000 baht, a designer jacket worth 3,500 baht, sunglasses worth 7,000 baht, a cap worth 1,000 baht, earphones worth 1,000 baht, a phone charger worth 500 baht, and more. The bag itself was worth over 7,000 baht.

Police tracked down the tuk tuk and managed to identify its registration plate. However, the plate on display was fake, posing a challenge for the officers. They then reviewed security camera footage from the scene and nearby areas and successfully identified the tuk-tuk driver as 66 year old Boonlert Jadsanam.

Boonlert was arrested on Monday, September 9, in the Rama VI Soi 21, in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok. He confessed that Viafore was not his first victim, as he had committed similar thefts against other foreigners.

According to Boonlert, most of his victims were foreigners whom he picked up from the Nana, Pratunam, and Yaowarat areas. He stated that he primarily targeted cash and disposed of other belongings in the trash.

Boonlert has been charged under Section 335 of the Criminal Code for committing theft at night and using a vehicle to facilitate the crime. He faces a possible imprisonment of one to five years and a fine ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 baht if charged.