Tourists beware: Algerian pickpocket finally nabbed after preying on tourists in Bangkok

[webfact]

Tourists beware: Algerian pickpocket finally nabbed after preying on tourists in Bangkok

 

 

An Algerian thief and pickpocket has been arrested in Bangkok. He admitted to preying on tourists in places like the BTS and department stores. 

 

Shofin Sharif (name transliterated from Thai) indicated that tourists were easy pickings and were less likely to report crimes.

 

Sharif had been suspected of theft in early December but managed to wriggle out of responsibility when he claimed that he had found a wallet on the BTS and was trying to return it to its owner. 

 

Police just photographed him and took his details on that occasion. 

 

However, on 18th December he was identified as the person who lifted a wallet from a British person travelling between Siam and Mor Chit stations. 

 

CCTV clearly showed Sharif tracking the Brit before he lifted the wallet on a train. It contained cash in pounds (2,555) and local currency in excess of 100,000 baht. Two credit cards were also stolen. 

 

Sharif used the cards to purchase goods at a Sukhumvit Soi 13 convenience store then purchased brand name products elsewhere. 

 

Yesterday immigration chief Lt gen Surachate Hakparn - in his capacity as deputy of the information technology police - interviewed Sharif and gave details about the case. 

 

Sharif admitted to preying on tourists and has been charged with theft and using credit cards. 

 

Potential associates of the thief are being sought as the case widens, reported INN. 

 

Source: INN

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-01-22

[Vacuum]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

CCTV clearly showed Sharif tracking the Brit before he lifted the wallet on a train. It contained cash in pounds (2,555) and local currency in excess of 100,000 baht.

Must have been a big wallet. Don't know about the pounds, but 100K in baht is quite a wad of money.

[RotBenz8888]

And why he chose to "work" in Thailand, of all the countries in the world?

[bluesofa]

34 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

And why he chose to "work" in Thailand, of all the countries in the world?

Perhaps it's due to Suvarnabhumi airport lost property office and the high number of brains waiting for collection there.

[ALFREDO]

3 hours ago, Vacuum said:

Must have been a big wallet. Don't know about the pounds, but 100K in baht is quite a wad of money.

So combined its more then 100.000 Baht. The Thai Original in INN writes - easy carried - in a wallet ;-) 

 

"Is a British currency note of 2,555 pounds / Thai currency, 10,000 baht, and 2 different credit cards worth a total of more than 1 hundred thousand baht disappeared."

[mok199]

Shocking,, Bangkok still has tourists !!

[Toosetinmyways]

Surely the Headline should read.  

Tourists Rejoice: Algerian pickpocket finally nabbed after preying on tourists in Bangkok

 

Unless they were coming to be pick pocketed

 

•  

[VocalNeal]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

has been charged with theft

 

Do we know what time this crime was committed?

[Odysseus123]

..and so civilization is saved for yet another day...

[Benmart]

9 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

And why he chose to "work" in Thailand, of all the countries in the world?

The best person to ask seems to be the suspect.

[mrwebb8825]

Why wasn't he charged for working without a work permit and working in a job reserved for Thais? ????

[sirocco]

post 11, hello

 

because the Arab said he "worked" without a work and paperless permit, in Europe and that this work was reserved for Arabs and Roma.

He thought that in Thailand it was the same.