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Foreign man steals phone at Pattaya cafe

A foreign man has been accused of taking a mobile phone from Espresso Love cafe in Pattaya, with CCTV footage said to show the alleged theft.

The cafe owner has filed a police report after an appeal for the phone's return was posted in a Pattaya Facebook group on Wednesday, 5 August. The incident was reported to have taken place at the cafe on 3 August.

Footage prompts appeal for phone's return

Facebook user Oanchalee Sadkhunthod shared the appeal, asking anyone who recognised the man to tell him to return the phone allegedly taken from Espresso Love cafe.

According to the post, the man entered the cafe, ordered a coffee and later paid for his drink before leaving as normal.

IMG_9367.jpeg

Picture courtesy of Oanchalee Sadkhunthod Facebook

He then reportedly returned a short time afterwards while staff were talking to another customer. CCTV footage appears to show him picking up a mobile phone and leaving the premises.

The alleged theft was clearly captured on the cafe's security cameras, according to the account shared online.

Cafe owner reports matter to police

The cafe owner has since lodged a report with police. The footage has been circulated in the Pattaya Facebook group in the hope that someone can identify the man and help secure the return of the device.

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6 August 2026

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Recommended Comments

redwood1 Ruby Member

redwood1

Advanced Member
(edited)

These days, people must have their phones to function in this world.....So to steal a smartphone is to steal someone's life....

It goes way beyond the cost of the phone....

It's a terrible crime.....

Very similar to stealing someone's horse in the old west....

And the punishment for stealing a horse was an automatic hanging on the spot or a bullet into the head....

Edited by redwood1

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

A crime of opportunity.

Obviously not his first time.

A reminder to all of us not to make it so easy.

As the Colombians say don't give Papaya.

shackleton Platinum Member

shackleton

Advanced Member

Seems to be getting a regular thing people taking what does not belong to them

Especially a stupid idea with CCTV Cameras in most places m

No excuses find and deported

L- Lifeline Silver Member

L- Lifeline

Advanced Member
5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

How will they ever find him?

Grey haired white man in shorts. t-shirt, and cheap sandals.

In Pattaya, who isn't?

Indeed I suspect he will blend in very easily!

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member
(edited)

I seriously doubt he's a professional criminal as it was a classic crime of opportunity.

Also a professional criminal woukd have been aware of cameras.

In any case he's old enough to know better!

Edited by Jingthing

goatfarmer Silver Member

goatfarmer

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Oh come on. Did you watch the video? He snuck back and grabbed it.

Did look like he was doing a bit of snucking, looking around to see if anyone was looking, and then the quick snatch, but you can never be sure of intent from a video.

241195_1469957797 Senior Member

241195_1469957797

Member

This dirty rat seems to be a seasoned thief.🤢

VBer Advanced Member

VBer

Member

I don’t not understand something. iPhones and modern androids are unusable for thieves. You cannot erase it and sell as the used phone. Only possible way is to sell it by parts, receiving pennies. If android phone is not new model and is erasable, it worth around nothing. So what is the point to steal phone?

Hotchilli123 Senior Member

Hotchilli123

Member
8 hours ago, motdaeng said:

did he just arrive in pattaya?

He's still in possession of his shirt... so my guess he's a newbie

Jiggo Gold Member

Jiggo

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, motdaeng said:

did he just arrive in pattaya? if so, he didn't waste any time making a name for himself... 🙃

what a fool ... 😄

Looks like no baggage label on his suitcase, may be getting the Airport Bus, and out of Thailand now.

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

Wonder if he got a bad hair dye job yet.

Ebumbu Silver Member

Ebumbu

Advanced Member

The one weird trick Apple hates for upgrading your phone.

novacova Star Member

novacova

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He then reportedly returned a short time afterwards while staff were talking to another customer.

Good grief, what a slow minded crook stealing something and having a delayed realization that his every move is being videotaped from the time he steps out his door.

foxboy Senior Member

foxboy

Member
(edited)

Every bad deed from a tourist takes us one step closer to our Thai hosts eventually starting to despise us. I hate this type of behaviour and the potential impact it has on all of us. I hope they catch him and blacklist him forever. Such a pointless crime, if you want an iPhone go and buy your own!

Edited by foxboy

PoorSucker Star Member

PoorSucker

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

A crime of opportunity.

Obviously not his first time.

A reminder to all of us not to make it so easy.

As the Colombians say don't give Papaya.

Tried to convince my lady that papaya originates from the tropical region of the Americas, same as chilli.

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

How will they ever find him?

Grey haired white man in shorts. t-shirt, and cheap sandals.

In Pattaya, who isn't?

I'm sure there are more cameras along the street that will provide facial recognition. Silly old f.rt. Hope he gets a knock on his door.

Reddavy Gold Member

Reddavy

Advanced Member
9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Thieves aren't smart, that's why they thieve, can't make money normally

Thieves are not smart 🤣🤣 is that why the world is full of them. Most thieves never get caught. Just look at politicians the world over.

Reddavy Gold Member

Reddavy

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Return to whom?

Nowhere in this article is the alleged specific owner of the phone identified. Was it owned by the shop per se and not to a person?

No mention of attempting to call the phone number nor GPS its location. Or was the pone owner unavailable?

????

Why would the cafe owner report it if it was not theirs? It clearly shows him steal it off a cash register. Really clear it belongs to the cafe owner or member of staff. As for the rest of your post who knows.

robert2 Senior Member

robert2

Member

Judging from the sunburn, Just arrived.

hidbehindthesofa Explorer Member

hidbehindthesofa

Member

I am surprised there are not more phone thefts in Thailand.

I frequently go into a bar or restaurant and the staff have left one or more phones unattended on the counter, bar or table. Whilst there may be CCTV, it does not stop then from being pocketed by a passer-by.

I always asked for them to be moved in order that I do not get accused of theft if somebody else should pick them up - or indeed if they get damaged from spilt beer or accidently knocked on the floor.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, newnative said:

Me. In regard to the thread--clear as can be that he stole the phone--the camera was angled perfectly. As we say in America, poor white trash.

So racist comments are fine in America then? I thought it was woke

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member
(edited)

I just noticed his gait is quite distinctive. If he hasn't left town already, he best get hopping.

Edited by Jingthing

fredwiggy Star Member

fredwiggy

Advanced Member
13 minutes ago, hidbehindthesofa said:

I am surprised there are not more phone thefts in Thailand.

I frequently go into a bar or restaurant and the staff have left one or more phones unattended on the counter, bar or table. Whilst there may be CCTV, it does not stop then from being pocketed by a passer-by.

I always asked for them to be moved in order that I do not get accused of theft if somebody else should pick them up - or indeed if they get damaged from spilt beer or accidently knocked on the floor.

There's quite a lot of theft in Thailand, and phones are one big target. Some trust, like what you described, until they also lose a phone. The best way not to, is to keep it either in your hand or pocketed. Letting it down can lead to theft or a lost phone if you walk away.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member

Some of those phones cost over £1000 who on earth would leave one just lying about, except an idiot. And yeah, before the usual suspects get their knickers in a twist , I am victim blaming , what of it ?

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, VBer said:

I don’t not understand something. iPhones and modern androids are unusable for thieves. You cannot erase it and sell as the used phone. Only possible way is to sell it by parts, receiving pennies. If android phone is not new model and is erasable, it worth around nothing. So what is the point to steal phone?

assuming it had some sort of lock activated? It might not have had The thief may by now have cleaned out his unfortunate victims bank accounts as well. Wonder if there were any crypto passwords on there , this could turn out to be rather costly

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

I personally don't feel there is a very high risk for that kind of crime in Thailand.

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