Chinese passenger arrested for stealing 60,000 Baht on Bangkok bound flight

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Chinese passenger arrested for stealing 60,000 Baht on Bangkok bound flight
Kwaang Siripoom

BANGKOK:-- A Chinese man has been arrested after stealing almost 60,000 Baht in cash from passenger on a flight from Macao to Bangkok.

Yesterday, Pol. Col. Nithithorn Chintakanon Tourist Police Deputy Commander told reporters the man was travelling on Air Asia flight FD763 from Macao and was promptly arrested upon arrival at Don Meuang airport.

The Chinese man identified as Mr. Yang Jian Xin, 42, was spotted stealing money from a bag located in the overhead compartment by a member of the cabin crew.

However, rather than approach the man during the flight, the attendant made an inflight warning advising passengers to keep their belongings with them at all times. She then waited until the plane landed and contacted airport security on the ground who detained the man.

During questioning with airport tourist police, the man admitted stealing 59, 504 THB and reportedly told officers he had followed his target from Macao in order to steal the money.

Pol. Col. Nithithorn revealed the man later admitted to being part of a gang that regularly targets passengers on planes from Macao, who return to Thailand with winnings from its famous casinos.

The man told police that gang members pretend to be normal passengers trying to open or look for something in their own bag in the overhead compartment.

However, instead, they look through neighbouring bags transferring anything of value into their own bag. The theft normally takes place when passengers nearby have fallen asleep.

Police said that they are seeing increasing reports of thefts of this nature.

Source: Daily News

-- 2016-03-03

[Fookhaht]

Gambling winnings: Easy come, easy go!

[Ks45672]

They must have left out some information on this story, it's not so simple to follow someone onto a plane if you don't have a ticket for the same flight. .

[mok199]

flying no class....

[off road pat]

They must have left out some information on this story, it's not so simple to follow someone onto a plane if you don't have a ticket for the same flight. .

there was a similar case last week,...or maybe it's the same one ? in that case it's old news.....!!

[steven100]

he's a cheat and a thief .......

[tomacht8]

What a cockroach.
Better also to provide the hand luggage with a lock.

[ezzra]

Unfortunately there is no respite from crocks even when you fly in what perceived to be a safe

informants, where you plan to relax and enjoy the flight

but no, even there you have to watch your belonging like an eagle, now days, people

have no shame or scrupulous anymore, they lie cheat steal and knives for their own selfish needs.....

[Pib]

Would have been nice if they could have squeezed the entire Don Meuang Airport tourist police and immigration officer division into the photo with the robber. I expect such a photo was requested but the photographer probably didn't have a wide-angle lens.

[KhaoNiaw]

They must have left out some information on this story, it's not so simple to follow someone onto a plane if you don't have a ticket for the same flight. .

there was a similar case last week,...or maybe it's the same one ? in that case it's old news.....!!

Different case. That was flying in from somewhere else and I think it was cameras that were stolen. The culprit was also Chinese. Supposedly there are teams of them working the flights not only from Macau but other destinations as well.

Edited March 3, 2016 by KhaoNiaw

[thaiduncankk]

60k. Not too clever to leave it in an overhead locker. Surely the passenger had pockets in his trousers and shirt.

[dddave]

They must have left out some information on this story, it's not so simple to follow someone onto a plane if you don't have a ticket for the same flight. .

Sure it's easy. The Bangkok-Macao flights are rarely full so easy to buy a ticket as a walk-up, then easy to catch up to the quarry at departure gate.

Passengers frequently get up and get stuff out of their bags in the bins; nobody really pays attention.

[EyesWideOpen]

Darn !!! What poor timing. Just when Thai authorities are trying

to soothe the general population that inside the Chinese really

are good people, and their tourism dollars are needed,

along comes a story like this one to ruin everything........ The

news story is not stating who the victim is, I suspect that this

is a Chinese on Chinese crime..

[Ks45672]

They must have left out some information on this story, it's not so simple to follow someone onto a plane if you don't have a ticket for the same flight. .

Sure it's easy. The Bangkok-Macao flights are rarely full so easy to buy a ticket as a walk-up, then easy to catch up to the quarry at departure gate.

Passengers frequently get up and get stuff out of their bags in the bins; nobody really pays attention.

You see an Asian guy in a macao casino win a pile of money, you don't even know he's going to the airport next never mind which flight he's taking and you have to make sure where the money is while buying a ticket and then catching up to him at the departure lounge sounds a bit too much like a James bond mission imo...

If they are unsuccessful getting any cash they have a lot of expenses to cover too...

Also 59k is pittance for the costs and logistics involved in a robbery on a plane

[worgeordie]

Difficult to believe gangs operate this way,as you are paying out

cash for a ticket and there might be no return,as you will not be

guaranteed to find anything to steal n the flight.

regards Worgeordie

[dcnx]

Chinese gangs stealing on planes. Great.

[Tomtomtom69]

Darn !!! What poor timing. Just when Thai authorities are trying

to soothe the general population that inside the Chinese really

are good people, and their tourism dollars are needed,

along comes a story like this one to ruin everything........ The

news story is not stating who the victim is, I suspect that this

is a Chinese on Chinese crime..

Actually, Thailand is waking up to the Chinese and the majority of Thais I know don't have a good opinion of Chinese tourists.

Regulating the entry of their vehicles, stopping Chinese tour guides and wedding photographers working illegally and stealing work from Thais are just the beginning.

Chinese campervans driving into Thailand and not spending a Baht here, parking for free at Wats, petrol stations (which begs the question, how do they shower? Or do they do the same thing as back home when there's no hot water for a week and not have a shower at all?) and boiling their own noodles instead of buying something at the local store. That is now being clamped down upon.

I read a blog comment on a Facebook post of a Thai social media user who commented on a picture of a Chinese campervan driving inside Thailand near Phitsanulok. The caption read in Thai and I quote: "new way to run drugs around the country. Chinese tourist vehicles."

Anyway, Chinese on Chinese crime doesn't make it any less serious. Especially considering the international element of it here you have someone stealing money on a flight to a foreign country [Thailand].

[shirtless]

The one time you win and this Prick steal your winnings give him 10 years

[monty1412]

Hmm, some what surprised Air Asia didnt charge a 7% Return of monies or Customer Protection surcharge on the 60K...

[mesterm]

Difficult to believe gangs operate this way,as you are paying out

cash for a ticket and there might be no return,as you will not be

guaranteed to find anything to steal n the flight.

regards Worgeordie

Maybe he came up with this whole story to save face, yeah the one he's covering in the photo

He probably was just on the same flight, and noticed some guy putting money in his bag on the overhead compartment.

[masuk]

2253THB one way, free visa into Thailand. That guy would have come out in front!

[Jim walker]

Nothing worse than a sneak thief get him locked up in a nice Thai prison for a few years as he is obviously a repeat offender safer for public if he is out of circulation for a few years and a good warning to others Chinese who might like to follow his example. Not just pay some policeman a few thousand baht and jump on next plane for home.

[geisha]

Heard about these Chinese gangs operating on Bali bound flights last year.

[Transporter]

I hope they beat the names of the rest of the gang out of him and then tie him down over bamboo plants.

[siliconvalley]

Wow.

Congratulation Air Asia.

If they were flying Thai Airways..... Well?

[Radar501]

Not one of the cops in the trophy photo is pointing at the cash booty..........something vewwy vewwy wrong here

Edited March 3, 2016 by Radar501

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Hmm, some what surprised Air Asia didnt charge a 7% Return of monies or Customer Protection surcharge on the 60K...

Why the bashing?

The girl who saw the theft acted very professionally.

[dotpoom]

Following a person all that way to steal 59,000 Baht..... and paying for a flight???????????

[Nowisee]

Trust no one.

[sawadee1947]

wow, now the quality tourits coming not only from UK or Russia but also from China...who did expect that?