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

 

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.

 

 

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

10 hours ago, Cameroni said:

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

Perhaps they read AN.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

Am I missing something, or are some zero's missing ?

11 hours ago, Cameroni said:

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

if you were not in thailand at that time of theft nothing would have happend and no 20K lost 

 

it is your fault for being at the wrong place at the wrong time , simple 

 

stay at home, no money lost! 

It doesn’t seem that there is conclusive proof that these foreigners took the bag containing the watch. Presumably they were in the restaurant/bar at the time that it was left lying around on the counter, but staff, maybe other customers?, could also have taken it.

 

Its also weird that the owner hasn’t been identified. That is the person who would file a police report.

 

Just weird overall really.

 

No tattoos on 4 of them.  

That rules out Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Russians...

So they may be Israelis?  Arabs?  Mormons?

 

17 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

 

No tattoos on 4 of them.  

That rules out Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Russians...

So they may be Israelis?  Arabs?  Mormons?

 

Maybe they are undercover operatives.

 

TBH, this seems like an example of the dangers of internet sleuthing. Potentially innocent people get accused and convicted with next to no proof.

What do they have cameras covering the pool table but not the bar area duh

Why was the bag just sitting on the bar ? 🙄🙈

41 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Am I missing something, or are some zero's missing ?

Westwood watch is about 3-400 € 

So let me get this straight. Persons unidentified bring a high value money laundering device, also called a watch, not being worn but in a bag which is then casually left unattended on a bar while they do important things like play pool.  Another gang..oops..group of persons unidentified arrives and to the first groups shock and dismay, the unattended bag on the bar that nobody seems to be watching, disappears, as do the second group of arrivals. 

Gee wizz?  I wonder how they knew it wasn't just a sandwich in that bag?  Surely, nobody would pre-arrange such a scenario for payment for goods received and insurance purposes would they?

How can anybody watch out for them if their faces have been blanked out on the photo. Or was this another gang at the pool table. And who says which gang took the bag. Talk about smelling a rat?

What a non-story about a cheap POS and overpriced clinky fashion watch made in China worth next to nothing

13 hours ago, Cameroni said:

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

I reckon they should put that bloke on their WATCH list and if he is the one then they can catch him.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Am I missing something, or are some zero's missing ?

Not really. You can buy used Vivienne Westwood Time Machine watches all day long on ebay for 10k.

2 hours ago, David T Pike said:

Not really. You can buy used Vivienne Westwood Time Machine watches all day long on ebay for 10k.

10 K what?

baht

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Am I missing something, or are some zero's missing ?

Ask the mysterious Vivian Westwood what her watch was doing in someone elses bag and what the value of the watch is.

Troll post removed 

18 hours ago, Cameroni said:

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

They did nothing as they found the person and said basically give us the watch and you won't be arrested. Maybe I am wrong. But odds are I believe I maybe correct.

 

19 hours ago, Cameroni said:

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

 

Thai police did nothing. NOTHING.

There was nothing to be gained by the franchisees that you discussed your problem with, you likely would have had to cut them in for a reward to provide any kind of motivation. 

 

And why did these people leave something valuable on a bar countertop regardless of whether or not it was an area that was for the employees, it sounds like it was in within reach of any scoundrels that were nearby. 

 

I'm not justifying criminal activity, but the point is out of sight out of mind. 

6 hours ago, ronster said:

Westwood watch is about 3-400 € 

In other words an overpriced piece of designer junk that probably had a cost of about $6 to make? And some fool bought it. 

7 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

 

No tattoos on 4 of them.  

That rules out Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Russians...

So they may be Israelis?  Arabs?  Mormons?

 

I'm an Aussie, with no tattoos, so what's your point... Stereotyping others is certainly racist, and I'm surprised ASEAN Now allows such comments.

3 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Ask the mysterious Vivian Westwood what her watch was doing in someone elses bag and what the value of the watch is.

Made in China value.. 

 Phuket Restaurant Hunts Foreigners in Watch Theft

 

Doesn't sound right Got CCTV  Footage  but haven't  checked  who Took the Time piece or DIDN'T. 

Check first before Accusing  people .

17 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

 

No tattoos on 4 of them.  

That rules out Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Russians...

So they may be Israelis?  Arabs?  Mormons?

 

Would guess they are Amish. Look for the horse and buggy parked outside.

 

23 hours ago, hotchilli said:

10 K what?

baht

Yes THB...  https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Vivienne+Westwood+Time+Machine&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_odkw=used+Vivienne+Westwood+Time+Machine&_osacat=0 

Insured ? 

 

Insurance scam ? 

 

Of course not. Silly me. 

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Made in China value.. 

Silly me. Hand crafted by artisans if far Cathay is highly sought after by horologists. Just as Mr Prawit.