Photo via Facebook/ สถานีตำรวจภูธรวิชิต

 

An Australian national has been apprehended by Thai police following a brazen theft of cannabis products from a shop in Phuket. The incident took place on the night of Sunday, 26th May, but it was only after a social media campaign by the shop owner, Chatchai Tanamas, that authorities were able to make an arrest.

 

Chatchai, the owner of the targeted cannabis shop, detailed how six foreigners arrived at his establishment around 11pm. They appeared to be typical customers, engaging with staff and purchasing items worth 1,000 baht. However, the situation took a turn when Chatchai reviewed the security footage the following day, noticing that certain products were missing from the display.

 

CCTV captured one man in particular, wearing a distinct black basketball tank top, as he discreetly took a product from the counter while other group members diverted the staff’s attention. The footage appeared to show this man handing the stolen item to an accomplice who aided in concealing it, suggesting a planned act of theft.

 

In response to the discovery, Chatchai posted the CCTV footage and images of the suspects on his Facebook account on Monday, 27th May, offering a reward of 5,000 baht for any information leading to the suspects. The post quickly gained traction among netizens, leading to increased pressure and vigilance.

 

By Wednesday, 29th May, the efforts paid off. Officers from Wichit Police Station announced through their official Facebook page the arrest of the suspect, who wore the same outfit as the man identified in the footage. While the police confirmed the man was Australian, they did not disclose his name.

 

Although the stolen goods were not of significant financial value, Chatchai stressed the importance of reporting the crime to prevent similar incidents and to hold the culprits accountable. He expressed hope that the arrest would serve as a deterrent to those contemplating similar actions.

 

Under Section 335 of Thailand’s Criminal Law, the suspect could face serious repercussions, with penalties ranging from one to five years in prison and fines between 20,000 to 100,000 baht for theft during nighttime. The arrest marked a swift and effective closure of the case, thanks to social media engagement and cooperative policing.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-30

 

 

P for Punters... P for Phuket... P for Pattaya... so much common

Can you get prosecuted for stealing something that's illegal?  Can guarantee that the thc content was over the permitted 0.01% level

The things you have to do to get the police to take action.

 

Without the online campaign to cause embarrassment, the police would have done nothing

Thank you Australia  for taking pressure off the Brits and the Swiss.

 

Keep up the bad work.

Can see a lot of tea money exchange hands soon.

DOPE !!! 😂

 

Six customers for spending a 1000bht , big spenders there .

Always amazes me these sellers put bag after bag on the counter to show people and don't think to maybe just show them 1 or 2 at a time . Not to mention the seller has probably been testing it in the shop so is stoned and not paying attention.

Name and shame please.

Could do with one of these as security in the shop, Skippy don't <deleted> about.🙂

The drug of peace and love...yeah right, typical violent,.thieving potheads..ban weed now!!!!?

The Australians seem to be of a particular ethnicity.

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

The drug of peace and love...yeah right, typical violent,.thieving potheads..ban weed now!!!!?

Amazes me some still have a completely opposite idea of what weed does to the average person. Fact is, most high end crimes are done by businessmen, who steal much more than 1000 baht. Violence happens because someone is pushed beyond their limits, is doing drugs like meth and yaba which can make aggressive people more aggressive, those who drink alcohol who shouldn't and the mentally ill who aren't on anything but have psychological problems. Ban weed and others will look to those other drugs, that don't have a calming effect.

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

ban weed now!

.....and while you at it; alcohol too!

12 minutes ago, baansgr said:

The drug of peace and love...yeah right, typical violent,.thieving potheads..ban weed now!!!!?

 

Can you point out the violence for me. 

5 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

The Australians seem to be of a particular ethnicity.

From a few places actually................https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Australia

Come on you Brits.

Don't let the Aussies over take you.

4 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Can you point out the violence for me. 

5 thieving bogans...you can't tell me they don't get violent

Just now, baansgr said:

5 thieving bogans...you can't tell me they don't get violent

No way to judge people without knowing them, although they might attack McDonalds later.

11 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Amazes me some still have a completely opposite idea of what weed does to the average person. Fact is, most high end crimes are done by businessmen, who steal much more than 1000 baht. Violence happens because someone is pushed beyond their limits, is doing drugs like meth and yaba which can make aggressive people more aggressive, those who drink alcohol who shouldn't and the mentally ill who aren't on anything but have psychological problems. Ban weed and others will look to those other drugs, that don't have a calming effect.

It does not have a calming effect..that is just a trippy hippy outlook

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

From a few places actually................https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Australia

I'm obviously not talking about the demographics of Australia and I have no need to go to wiki to be "educated" on this. Look at the image in the OP.

11 hours ago, baansgr said:

5 thieving bogans...you can't tell me they don't get violent

 

their hairstyles make me nervous.

people with that half shaven head look like gang members to me 

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

It does not have a calming effect..that is just a trippy hippy outlook

If you haven't tried, you can't assume

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I'm obviously not talking about the demographics of Australia and I have no need to go to wiki to be "educated" on this. Look at the image in the OP.

No way of telling where people are from, as all nationalities are everywhere.

"....and fines between 20,000 to 100,000 baht for theft during nighttime. "

How much during daytime? It´s important to know this for further attempts.

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

5 thieving bogans...you can't tell me they don't get violent

 

So nothing but your assumptions. Got it. 

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

their hairstyles make me nervous.

people with that half shaven head look like gang members to me 

Look like Bankstown Lebs

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

Can you get prosecuted for stealing something that's illegal?  Can guarantee that the thc content was over the permitted 0.01% level

 

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

Can you get prosecuted for stealing something that's illegal?  Can guarantee that the thc content was over the permitted 0.01% level

Top score for the most retarded answer yet!

33 minutes ago, baansgr said:

It does not have a calming effect..that is just a trippy hippy outlook

open a weed thread and the usual bigots and trolls appear every time

Stealing in general is either done for sport or it's done as an act of desperation typically. Stealing in Thailand or stealing in any foreign country where you just don't know what all the variables are is such an incredible act of stupidity and ignorance. 

 

Thailand sure seems to be attracting a lot of low lifes these days, with its open legs, open arms visa policy. 

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

  desperation

stupidity and ignorance. 

a lot of low life's these days, 

the Benidorm crew