Russian Man Steals 15,000 Baht and Phone in Phuket Bar Heist

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Facebook/ Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์
 

A Thai woman issued a warning to locals after a Russian man stole her bag, containing 15,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone, from a bar in Phuket's Karon neighbourhood on Wednesday. The incident has sparked online debates about the visa-free policy for foreign visitors.

 

The victim, who works at the bar, recounted the incident to Phuket Times yesterday, stating she had briefly left her bag at the counter to buy food from a nearby stall. Upon returning, she discovered her bag missing. CCTV footage later revealed that a Russian man had taken the bag and swiftly exited the bar. 

 

The footage indicated that the man arrived at the bar with his girlfriend, although he executed the theft alone. The victim expressed uncertainty whether his girlfriend was aware of the crime.

“I would like to issue a warning to others. Don’t be reckless and leave anything behind. You cannot trust anyone, especially foreigners,” the woman remarked during her interview with the media.

 

Public Outcry Over Visa-Free Policy

 

The theft quickly stirred public sentiment online, with many Thai netizens criticising the visa-free policy that allows foreigners to enter Thailand easily. Commenters highlighted various issues, from public indecency to thefts involving tourists. 

 

“Be careful with Chinese and Indian tourists as well,” one user warned, while another commented, “Foreign criminals come to Thailand easily under this government.”

 

Other users expressed fears of rising crime rates, suggesting more stringent measures for foreign visitors. Some even called for a specialised prison for foreign criminals, citing an influx of thefts and misdemeanors.

 

Divided Opinions

 

While many supported stricter policies, others blamed the victim for her carelessness. Some argued against cancelling the visa-free policy, noting that it would adversely affect tourism businesses already struggling with fewer visitors.

 

 Related Incidents

 

The issue of foreigner-related crime in Thailand is not isolated. In another recent instance, a Thai woman reported her motorcycle theft by a foreigner in Chalong district, while earlier in June, another foreigner in Pattaya was apprehended for a similar incident. In April, two foreign women were caught stealing from a souvenir shop in Krabi, but no further details on their arrest have been disclosed.

 

The recent spike in crimes has prompted locals to call for better security measures and more rigorous evaluations of foreign visitors entering the country.

 

-- 2024-06-21

 

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[bob smith]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

A Thai woman issued a warning to locals after a Russian man stole her bag, containing 15,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone, from a bar in Phuket's Karon neighbourhood on Wednesday.

another nutcase ruskie on the loose!

 

just go home for gods sake, your country needs you on the front line!

 

bob.

[fredwiggy]

“I would like to issue a warning to others. Don’t be reckless and leave anything behind. You cannot trust anyone, especially foreigners,” the woman remarked during her interview with the media"..........Especially foreigners? We are a lot more likely to not get involved in illegal activity, seeing most of us living here get a decent retirement or pension, and tourists usually have enough money to get by because it's a vacation for them. . She isn't taking into account the thousands of thefts by locals daily here, along with other crime. Foreigners coming here and doing this isn't good for the rest of us for sure, but her comment makes us look like more of a problem than what goes on here daily by locals. People steal from my land all the time, and this includes vegetables, fruit and puppies. Theft has no boundaries, and more crime is always done by those that live in countries as natives than visitors...........This also........."Other users expressed fears of rising crime rates, suggesting more stringent measures for foreign visitors".............What can they do? You can\t tell if someone is a criminal unless you run his history when he arrives, which I'm sure wouldn't be an easy task, and many criminals don't have a record, especially the rich, white collar crooks that get past laws with money.I'm sure most of us who live and visit here are law abiding people who spend most of our money here, take care of women and children, and help out locals.

[ChipButty]

Cant they track the mobile phone? obviously not I would have thought these days everybody has a tracking app on their phones, 

[NativeBob]

friend of a friend was snatched $15.000 on tuk-tuk at Pratunam. Thai motocie gang. 

[Mavideol]

quality tourists in action,  555

[brianthainess]

Can't have that, its for Thais only to nick stuff. ..

[Taboo2]

So, did they catch the thief?

[Guderian]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

...with many Thai netizens criticising the visa-free policy that allows foreigners to enter Thailand easily. Commenters highlighted various issues, from public indecency to thefts involving tourists.

“Be careful with Chinese and Indian tourists as well,” one user warned, while another commented, “Foreign criminals come to Thailand easily under this government.”

 

The truth is starting to sink in...

[fittobethaied]

So, what else did she expect to happen to her purse? I see this all the time. Employees at Dairy Queen or any kiosk playing on their phones and placing them right in front of customers, then turning their backs to do some work. The worst is the terrible fad habit of putting a phone in one's back pocket with half of it protruding out of the pocket. Don't they realize that it could fall out so easily, especially when riding on a motorbike. Or, the obvious result would be to lose it to a pickpocket. It would be an easy target for even an unskilled pickpocket. The joke here is that the victim refuses to take responsibility for her own lack of responsibility. 

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Cant they track the mobile phone? obviously not I would have thought these days everybody has a tracking app on their phones, 

Well you thought wrong. I do not.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Well you thought wrong. I do not.

He's partially right. They can track phones using the IEMI number, which all phones have.............https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips-detail/track-stolen-phone-with-imei-number/

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

He's partially right. They can track phones using the IEMI number, which all phones have.............https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips-detail/track-stolen-phone-with-imei-number/

How many people know the IEMI number of their phone? And the linked page say to dial something to find it. I guess they mean before it is lost or stolen! 555

[fredwiggy]

Edited. I see you have to check the number when you buy the phone

[Hakuna Matata]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

You cannot trust anyone, especially foreigners

 

Oh my God! Way too many Russians now in Thailand, especially in Phuket and Pattaya.

 

Unfortunately, 90% of them are not tourists. They are staying in Thailand for months and years, buying illegal ED visas. They are not good people. Many of them are involved in all kinds of illegal activities in Thailand.

 

 

 

 

[nutosf]

Send the Russians home. Putin needs more fodder.

[harryviking]

Due to the situation in Russia you can be sure there are a lot of "unwanted" individuals that has arrived in Thailand and will do whatever to avoid being sent back! This will not exactly get better with the "open arm" policies against Russians! Thai visa policies many times looks like desperation to me.... 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“I would like to issue a warning to others. Don’t be reckless and leave anything behind. You cannot trust anyone, especially foreigners,” the woman remarked during her interview with the media.

 

More racism. They just can't help themselves, can they. There is a far, far, far greater chance of being robbed by a Thai, but that's an inconvenient truth, isn't it. The Russian got first to the bag she left, that's all. Stupid woman to leave the bag and stupid to make it a racist matter. Jeez!

[VBF]

13 minutes ago, fittobethaied said:

<snip>

The worst is the terrible fad habit of putting a phone in one's back pocket with half of it protruding out of the pocket. Don't they realize that it could fall out so easily, especially when riding on a motorbike. Or, the obvious result would be to lose it to a pickpocket. It would be an easy target for even an unskilled pickpocket. The joke here is that the victim refuses to take responsibility for her own lack of responsibility. 

I see that all the time in UK as well, and my thoughts are similar to yours.

[harryviking]

9 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

Oh my God! Way too many Russians now in Thailand, especially in Phuket and Pattaya.

 

Unfortunately, 90% of them are not tourists. They are staying in Thailand for months and years, buying illegal ED visas. They are not good people. Many of them are involved in all kinds of illegal activities in Thailand.

 

 

 

 

As  see it, the Thai authorities do not know the difference between someone from  Malawi or Great Britain! To them all is money! Russian are often bullies and drunks and are making other tourists flee from them! Thailand should of course understand that due to the situation in Russia, anything that can walk or crawl, criminals and others, will flock to Thailand and hide. They will do whatever to stay, including crime! The open arm policies sometimes seems like desperation! 

[Cabradelmar]

low on rubles... easier to steal than enlist.

[stix40]

More ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Russian tourists ! 

[harryviking]

1 minute ago, stix40 said:

More ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

Russian tourists ! 

Lol! Sounds like Thai alright!😂

[Hakuna Matata]

13 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

They can track phones using the IEMI number, which all phones have

 

There are tons of software on the net that allows anyone to alter the IMEI number which is equivalent of ESN number in CDMA and TDMA phones.

[mancub]

A Thai woman working in a bar leaving bt15000 unattended on the counter ?  Possible. but not usual behaviour !

[Gottfrid]

Yeah of course they need to stop visa free entrance. It should back to 15-30 days, which is perfectly enough for a regular holiday. If wish to stay longer, all visas should demand criminal background check, before issued.

[tomazbodner]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Public Outcry Over Visa-Free Policy

 

The theft quickly stirred public sentiment online, with many Thai netizens criticising the visa-free policy that allows foreigners to enter Thailand easily. Commenters highlighted various issues, from public indecency to thefts involving tourists. 

Yeah, lock Thailand down. Phuket doesn't need any tourists. Money grows on trees there.

[kuzmabruk]

44 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

How many people know the IEMI number of their phone? And the linked page say to dial something to find it. I guess they mean before it is lost or stolen! 555

Your mobile carrier knows your IMEI

[MalcolmB]

49 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

More racism. They just can't help themselves, can they. There is a far, far, far greater chance of being robbed by a Thai, but that's an inconvenient truth, isn't it. The Russian got first to the bag she left, that's all. Stupid woman to leave the bag and stupid to make it a racist matter. Jeez!

I have found Thais to be more honest westerners. Back in the UK people make a career of thieving and fencing. 

A friend of mine bought some cheap chainsaws from China. He couldn’t sell them as cheap from China. Nobody was interested. So he changed tact and told everyone at the pub they were hot stolen goods and they sold like hot cakes.

 

 

[Roel]

14 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

Your mobile carrier knows your IMEI

 

You can look it up:
 

• For Android: Go to Settings > About phone > Status > IMEI information.
• For iPhone: Go to Settings > General > About, and scroll down to find the IMEI number.

Then take a screen shot and upload the picture to your Google Drive.