Pattaya police are searching for a man accused of snatching a two-baht-weight gold necklace on the evening of 17 July 2026, from a gold shop on the second floor of a shopping centre in Pattaya, Chonburi.

The suspect allegedly threatened staff before running from the shop, saying he needed money to repay football gambling debts. Police said they are reviewing CCTV footage.

Suspect left an ID card behind

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sudet Imjai, investigation inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, received the report of the theft. He informed his superiors before Police Lieutenant Colonel Anek Srathongyu, superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, led investigators and patrol officers to the scene.

The theft took place at Yaowarat Bangkok Gold on the second floor of the shopping centre in the north Pattaya area.

A female employee told officers that the suspect was a tall, thin man wearing a black T-shirt. He fled through the front of the shopping centre with one gold necklace weighing two baht.

He left behind an identity card, although police had not established whether it belonged to the alleged offender or is real.

Employee describes alleged threat

Wunsen, 22, an employee at the shop, said the man initially asked to try on a three-baht-weight necklace. He then returned it and asked to wear a two-baht-weight chain.

She said he then told staff: "Do not make a loud noise. I do not want to kill anyone. I am in debt from football gambling and only need the money to pay the debt."

The man then ran towards the front of the centre, she said. Staff activated the alarm and police began efforts to intercept him.

Investigators will now use security camera footage to trace the suspect and seek his arrest for legal proceedings.

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18 July 2026

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Well at least he has the morals to pay off his debts!

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well at least he has the morals to pay off his debts!

He cannot pay off any debts from a prison cell.....LOL

“Robbing Peter to pay Paul”

Or, as they would say in Thailand:

"Digging one hole to fill another".

32 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

“Robbing Peter to pay Paul”

Or, as they would say in Thailand:

"Digging one hole to fill another".

Maybe he knew that he wouldn't survive, if he didn't pay Paul.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by Xonax

UPDATE

Pattaya police arrest mall gold-snatch suspect

Pictures courtesy of SiamChon

Pattaya police have arrested a 34-year-old man accused of snatching a two-baht gold necklace from a shop inside a shopping centre in the city on the evening of 17 July 2026.

The suspect, identified as Kittipong, known as "Q", was arrested at 8.46pm on 18 July in a room in the Map Song area of Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Police said they also seized some of the money still remaining in his bank account.

CCTV and tip-offs led to arrest

The theft occurred at a gold shop in a Pattaya shopping centre, where a lone male suspect allegedly grabbed a two-baht gold necklace before fleeing.

During the incident, he allegedly threatened staff, saying: "I don't want to kill anyone. I only need money to pay football gambling debts."

Police at Pattaya City Police Station, led by Pol Lt Col Sudech Imjai, an investigation inspector, traced the suspect's escape route using CCTV footage and information from informants.

When officers made the arrest, Kittipong reportedly asked them to allow him to use more, but police refused. He was then taken to identify the location where he had sold the necklace, at a pawn shop in Nong Prue.

Kittipong allegedly confessed to selling the necklace for 117,000 baht. He told investigators that part of the money had gone towards football gambling debts.

He also claimed that he had not previously gambled on football, but wanted money to help his sister negotiate with victims in a mule-account case in another area.

Suspect explains choice of necklace

According to police, Kittipong said he chose a two-baht necklace because he believed a three-baht item would be harder to sell and could make a buyer suspicious.

He was taken to identify both the scene of the theft and the place where the gold was sold, in support of his statement. He has since been handed to investigators at Pattaya City Police Station for further legal action.

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19 July 2026

I must say well done police, another thief off the streets. He could have got more desperate!