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610,000 baht in luxury watches missing from airline luggage

Two Thai social media influencers have sought legal help after reporting that two luxury watches, worth a combined 610,000 baht, disappeared from checked luggage on a flight from Bangkok to Krabi.

Araya Trongklang and Kunlanan Udomphan say a Cartier watch valued at about 470,000 baht and a Hermes watch worth 140,000 baht were missing when they collected their suitcase at Krabi International Airport on 21 August.

They travelled from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Krabi at around 1.50pm that day.

Damaged zip and empty watch box

The couple posted video footage on 21 August showing them inspecting their luggage after recovering it in Krabi. They said they noticed the suitcase zip was broken and decided to check the contents immediately.

IMG_1735.jpeg

In the video, Araya struggles to open the damaged suitcase before finding that the watch box inside was empty.

She said she had seen X-ray images before departure showing both watches inside the suitcase. However, she said they were gone when the baggage arrived in Krabi.

A friend travelling with the couple also said her suitcase appeared to have been searched. The video did not state whether anything had been taken from her luggage.

Police complaints have made no progress

The couple said airline staff advised them to make a police complaint so they could seek access to airport CCTV footage. They did so and reviewed the videos and images, but said they had received no update on the investigation.

IMG_1736.jpeg

Pictures courtesy of ทุบข่าวนนท์

After reporting the case to the airline, Araya said staff offered to arrange Business Class flights back to Bangkok for her, her boyfriend and four friends. She said this was not what she wanted, adding that she wanted the watches returned.

Ten days after the incident, the pair contacted Thai lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet for assistance. Araya said the lack of progress left her concerned that she would not receive justice.

Ronnarong said he would take the influencers to file a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division, as complaints Araya had made at two police stations had not progressed.


Related story

Suvarnabhumi-investigates-600000-baht-baggage-loss


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2 September 2026

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Alpha84 Silver Member

Alpha84

Advanced Member
(edited)

A person who can afford a US$15,000 watch packed it inside a 500-baht suitcase with a flimsy zipper and buried it among a bunch of inexpensive clothes. Yep, sounds completely normal. Surely this happens every day. Absolutely nothing suspicious here. 😂

Obviously, when traveling with a US$15,000 watch, the safest thing to do is not wear it on your wrist. No, no. Tuck it into a cheap, insecure checked suitcase instead, surrounded by clothes worth a fraction of its value. Genius.

And the suitcase looks small enough for carry-on. But why keep it with you when you can voluntarily hand it over to baggage handlers?

Just another perfectly ordinary case of: “I own a US$15,000 watch, so naturally I put it in my US$15 suitcase and checked it in.”

Totally believable. 👍

Edited by Alpha84

wensiensheng Ruby Member

wensiensheng

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Why did they wait for 10 days before reporting it to the police?

They didn’t. They reported it to two police stations and when there was no progress, reported it to a Thai lawyer 10 days later.

It’s written in black and white in the article.

“Ten days after the incident, the pair contacted Thai lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet for assistance. Araya said the lack of progress left her concerned that she would not receive justice.

Ronnarong said he would take the influencers to file a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division, as complaints Araya had made at two police stations had not progressed.”

giants49 Explorer Member

giants49

Member

What kind of moron leaves valuables in their checked luggage? Do that and you deserve what you get.

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I always put my valuables and cash and things of that nature in my carry-on, so what kind of imbecile would put high-end watches in their luggage?

Usually the person who wants to claim insurance or wants the Darwin award.

WDSmart Platinum Member

WDSmart

Advanced Member

I just can’t understand why anyone wears a watch anymore. All my watches, which I used to wear 20 or more years ago, are locked up in my safe. All I need to tell the time now is my phone.

chuang Platinum Member

chuang

Advanced Member

One an idiot the other a moron..

I think there's more than meets the eye...

Reddavy Gold Member

Reddavy

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I always put my valuables and cash and things of that nature in my carry-on, so what kind of imbecile would put high-end watches in their luggage?

The one’s that are trying to scam the insurance company.

David Blades Rookie Member

David Blades

Member

Not sure why people put valuable items in the suitcase. I mean I’m starting to wonder if the theft actually happened. I know the person can’t think the airline is going to compensate them.

Rookie123 Explorer Member

Rookie123

Member
11 hours ago, ezzra said:

Those guys should be nominated for the the Darwin award,

what did they have in their carry on luggage that they out those watches

in their check in lugguge?

Erm. I don't think you understand how Darwin Awards work...

Photoguy21 Ruby Member

Photoguy21

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

If the watches were insured there would be no doubt about their authenticity as, before the insurer accepted the risk, they would check that they were genuine.

If they were insured yes. But like any insurance policy they don't like to pay out if you have not taken every precaution that you could

newbee2022 Star Member

newbee2022

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

Insurance job......no one is so dumb as to put watches like that in checked luggage.

You're right, absolutely. It's much safer to strap them all to your wrists, up to your elbow or shoulder

MIke B Bad Gold Member

MIke B Bad

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Before any insurance claim is successful they have to prove that the watches were in the luggage, they don't just tell the insurance company that they lost B600,000 worth of watches and the insurance writes a cheque!

So unadulterated stupidity?

Dumb enough to put expensive items into to checked luggage and dumb enough not to realise the insurance is extremely unlikely to pay up.......bummer.

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