AS THE global economy is in a shaky state thieves are more numerous than mosquitos with two tourists, one from India and the other from China, having been conned and robbed by seemingly the same group of perpetrators in Pattaya, TV Channel 7 said today (April 9).
CCTV footage at this seaside city shows three foreign men approaching and striking up conversation with the unidentified Indian tourist and his friend. They then asked to exchange US dollars, and at first glance, everything seemed fine. However, the criminals took advantage of the commotion and the victim’s lack of vigilance, snatched US$900, or approximately 28,000 baht, and quickly fled.
In filing a police report at Pattaya City police station, the victim said just as he and his friend were changing money at an exchange booth in South Pattaya an Indian man approached and befriended them offering to exchanging the money for them on the pretext that he needed it to travel back to their home country.
However, as soon as the victim presented his money for inspection, the criminal seized it and fled, leaving the victim in shock.
Unbelievably, while the Indian victim was giving his statement to the police, two Chinese tourists showed up and reported that they too had been swindled by seemingly the same group of perpetrators. They were approached by the thieves asking for directions and requesting to see their currency before one of them snatched a gold ring worth 11,746 baht and fled.
Police issued a warning to everyone: do not trust anyone who asks to see your money or gold ornaments. The perpetrators have not yet been apprehended but investigators are reviewing CCTV clips to identify and arrest them.
CAPTIONS:
Top – A representative image of a thief. Photo by Gwendal Cottin on Unsplash
Front Page – Pattaya bay. Photo – Tourism Authority of Thailand
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