Teenager reels in thief after mobile snatched at Pattaya pier
A teenager’s quiet night of squid fishing in Pattaya turned into a real catch of the day, when a suspected thief tried to make off with his mobile, only to get hooked and hauled in by a quick-thinking witness.
It was around 9pm on Sunday, April 27, when a peaceful evening at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya was interrupted by a slippery act of thievery.
A 13 year old boy, named only as Thermo, was fishing near the pier in Nongprue when his iPhone XR, left resting on a nearby concrete ledge, suddenly vanished. Witnesses say a man climbed over a railing, nabbed the device, and made a not-so-smooth attempt to flee.
Fortunately, 19 year old Thanabodi, who was fishing alongside the youngster, clocked the suspicious movement and sprang into action.
“I saw him take the phone and told him to stop. He questioned if it really belonged to Thermo and asked for proof.”
Thermo calmly unlocked the phone to prove ownership, at which point the alleged thief quickly handed it back, clearly rattled.
Police arrived shortly after, finding the suspect, identified only as Jinnawat , already detained by locals, with the phone recovered, Pattaya News reported.
Jinnawat claimed it was all a misunderstanding. He told officers he works at the pier selling ferry tickets and thought the device had simply been left behind.
“I didn’t mean to steal it. I just picked it up thinking someone had forgotten it.”
Still, officers weren’t entirely convinced by his story and hauled him off to Pattaya City Police Station for further questioning.
The incident has shone a light on a growing wave of petty theft in Pattaya, especially involving mobile phones.
Back in February, a 68 year old security guard was left shaken after a brazen thief swiped his phone right under his nose during an overnight shift at a local condominium.
Somkuan Chitphak said he felt helpless and ignored after reporting the crime.
“I just want justice. No one followed up.”
With yet another case of phone theft making headlines, frustrated locals say it’s time for a crackdown, before more victims get dialled into trouble.
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