Report Phuket Restaurant Hunts Foreigners in Watch Theft

[snoop1130]

Photo via Facebook/ Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์

 

A restaurant in bustling Patong, Phuket, is on the hunt for a group of foreigners after a distinctive Vivienne Westwood watch was allegedly stolen from the premises on Friday, 16 August.

 

The search began when the restaurant owner aired the incident on social media, sharing CCTV images on the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, 19 August. The post, accompanied by screenshots and a picture of the missing cherry-red timepiece, described a brazen theft and rallied the community for vigilance.

 

"A foreign gang in Patong stole this watch from our restaurant. Someone left the bag containing the watch here, and one of these foreigners took it. Please spread a warning to the community."

 

The security footage reveals a group of five, consisting of four men and one woman, enjoying a game of pool in the restaurant’s outdoor area. The watch, encased in a bag, was reportedly left on a bar counter—an area where staff typically work.

 

The stolen item, a red Vivienne Westwood Time Machine watch, holds significant value, with Thai netizens estimating its worth between 8,000 and 11,000 baht. However, the restaurant owner hasn't confirmed these figures or disclosed whether the watch belonged to a patron or an employee. Additionally, the formalities of the incident remain unclear, including whether a police report has been filed.

 

Calls have been made by concerned netizens urging the release of more detailed CCTV footage or images capturing the precise moment the watch was taken to solidify the accusation. The restaurant has yet to respond to these requests.

 

This incident follows on the heels of another similar event in Phuket, contributing to a sense of unease in the local community. In the Thalang district, a Thai woman reported an attempted theft by a foreign man who allegedly stole her mobile phone and attempted to seize her car. He also reportedly tried to steal a motorbike from another local.

 

Choeng Thale Police reportedly apprehended the suspect, though details of any charges or punitive measures taken have not been disclosed. The victim of the latter incident expressed fear that the suspect might be released without sufficient consequence, posing an ongoing threat to residents.

 

As these troubling incidents unfold, concerns are mounting over the increasing number of thefts involving foreign individuals in Phuket. The local community is urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities promptly.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-20

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Calls have been made by concerned netizens urging the release of more detailed CCTV footage or images capturing the precise moment the watch was taken to solidify the accusation. The restaurant has yet to respond to these requests.

 

So, the restaurant / bar owner has no idea who took the watch... It could equally have been a member of staff... 

 

Yet, they've gone public blaming the foreginers....    The sentiment of the whole article highlights a growing xenophobia.

 

 

[Cameroni]

A Thai woman stole 20000 from my bag. I even have her ID card photo. 

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.