Photo via ThaiRath

 

Two Irish women reported a bag snatching incident in Chiang Mai, leading to a swift arrest by local authorities. The theft occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Soi Moom Mueang 7 when a thief on a motorcycle snatched a bag from one of the women. The early morning incident prompted the victims to seek police assistance immediately.

 

The two women, both 20 years old, were caught on CCTV footage during the theft, which captured their attempts to chase the thief. Despite their efforts, the snatcher, identified as 39-year-old Phanuwat, managed to escape. The police efficiently tracked him down to a garage in the Talat Kwan sub-district of Doi Saket, where he was employed, and recovered the stolen items from his accommodation.

 

Phanuwat admitted to the crime, citing financial difficulties as his motivation. His previous employment with a state-owned company had ended, and he found his current salary insufficient to meet his needs. His plan to sell the stolen items was thwarted by the quick police action.

 

The victims were able to identify the thief at the Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and retrieve their belongings, which included an iPhone 16 and other personal items. They expressed gratitude for the prompt response and efficient handling of the situation by the police, as documented in a video released by ThaiRath.

 

Phanuwat faces charges of bag snatching, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht. The use of a motorcycle during the theft could lead to a more severe penalty.

 

 

Key Takeaways

• A thief was arrested soon after a bag snatching from two Irish women.
• The suspect cited financial struggles as his reason for the theft.
• The victims praised the effective police response to recover their belongings.

 

Related Stories

Thai Man Arrested for Snatching Tourist’s Necklace

Thief Crashes After Snatching Teen’s Bag in Nakhon Ratchasima

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-30

 

 

Those are my Irish citizen fellows👍✌️⭐

Covid back in CM,

or just to protect their identity ?

They could have saved the expense and just gone to London for the same experience. 

Bloody lucky the two Irish women didn't catch him .

Oh dear … more lawlessness… how to attract tourists? High season coming soon…

Oh when a woman has her purse snatched they pull out all the stops, but my 20000 stolen by a woman  where I provided her ID they cannot raise a finger,. Talk about sex discrimination.

33 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Those are my Irish citizen fellows👍✌️⭐

wandering around at 3:30 in the morning, not too bright

 

9 minutes ago, flexomike said:

wandering around at 3:30 in the morning, not too bright

 

She's Irish. Quite normal and tough.

Beefy looking women 

2 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

Beefy looking women 

Yes they are somewhat overweight but, from they display there, I wouldn't mind having one of those Irish great evenings with them. The invitation stands if the want to come to Surin/Buriram. Wife and girls would be happy too.

But Kudos to TRP for that remarkable piece of communication..

This sucks to see I always felt so safe in Chiang Mai. Is the old city so overrun with tourists now they're drawing the attention of thieves?

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

he found his current salary insufficient to meet his needs

🤔😂

3 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Oh when a woman has her purse snatched they pull out all the stops, but my 20000 stolen by a woman  where I provided her ID they cannot raise a finger,. Talk about sex discrimination.

Errrrr...it wasn't a woman & ID was stolen.🙃🙃

Lucky not deported for doing the job of a policeman🤔

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

Yes they are somewhat overweight but, from they display there, I wouldn't mind having one of those Irish great evenings with them. The invitation stands if the want to come to Surin/Buriram. Wife and girls would be happy too.

Wow , that is kinky, not with her and your wife , but girls /daughters too ?

I hope they are over 18.

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Those are my Irish citizen fellows👍✌️⭐

Masked and lurking in the back streets at 0350 am.....🤔

He's lucky the women didn't kneecap him.

5 hours ago, flexomike said:

wandering around at 3:30 in the morning, not too bright

 

Chiang Mai is pretty safe at any hour, But there is always an exception.

5 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Oh when a woman has her purse snatched they pull out all the stops, but my 20000 stolen by a woman  where I provided her ID they cannot raise a finger,. Talk about sex discrimination.

 

  Did you bring a prostitute back to your room ?

5 hours ago, flexomike said:

wandering around at 3:30 in the morning, not too bright

 

 

  Not bright at all .

It was Nighttime

It was dark .

18 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Did you bring a prostitute back to your room ?

 

No, just a woman who omitted to disclose she had a child, so I did the decent thing and told her she's not good at sex and that's why we would not work out, and she had to leave my house.

 

I even wanted to be nice and took her to a mall, where she promptly disappeared with the pretext she had to use the bathroom as it was her time of the month.

 

Then I checked my bag and sure enough my 20000 baht cash were gone. This thieving low life stole from me!

Why was your money in a bag @Cameroni? Do you carry a 'man bag'? I think the RTP didn't like your story and decided you weren't worth the effort. They might even have found her...

I love Irish wimmen!

Yes, they can be thicc, but they're smart, adventurious, fun, are great conversation, can drink, enjoy food without silly made-up dietary restrictions, every one seems to be able to sing, and can be a wild romp!  And most can handle themselves in most situations without losing their minds like a lot of American, Brits, and Asians I've known.

Must be from breaking the chains of English and Catholic domination.

8 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Why was your money in a bag @Cameroni? Do you carry a 'man bag'? I think the RTP didn't like your story and decided you weren't worth the effort. They might even have found her...

 

It's a EUROPEAN CARRY-ALL!!!

 @Cameroni

2 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

 

Do they prefer being sodomized to using birth control? I guess that depends on what part of the country they're from. 

What a jerk comment to make,Pull your head in

Definitely a different ending.   A Happy Conclusion for the two woman…

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Masked and lurking in the back streets at 0350 am.....🤔

Yes, as they like it✌️