PATONG, THAILAND – Police in Phuket’s Patong district have arrested a 40-year-old Vietnamese man accused of breaking into a private pool villa and stealing cash from a holidaying family from Hong Kong. Officers said the swift operation unfolded within three days of the reported incident, highlighting the force’s growing emphasis on public safety in one of Thailand’s busiest tourist hubs.
Midnight burglary in an upscale neighborhood
The break-in occurred in the early hours of 26 October inside an exclusive residential compound along Prem Sap Village Road. According to the Patong Police, the family’s domestic worker, Pilawan Tathep, discovered the theft when household members woke up and found a bag in the living room had been rifled through.
About 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately €600) and 25,000 Thai baht (around €620) in cash were missing. Surveillance footage later revealed a man entering the property around 2:00 a.m. and leaving minutes later with the stolen money.
Rapid investigation leads to a suspect
Working under the direction of Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, Patong’s police chief, investigators reviewed CCTV images and traced the suspect’s escape route. They identified a red-and-black Honda PCX160 motorcycle with Phuket registration plates used in the getaway.
The investigation led officers to a hotel on Phra Metta Road on 29 October, where the same motorcycle was parked outside. Inside one of the rooms, police found the suspect, later identified as Huynh Van Chay, who reportedly confessed during questioning.
Evidence recovered from the hotel
Officers seized a range of items believed to be connected to the crime, including:
• The Honda PCX160 motorcycle used in the escape
• Several shirts, jackets, and jeans, a Gucci hoodie, and a matching cap
• A black CT-800 helmet, leather belt bag, green sandals, and brown belt
• 5,000 baht in cash — part of the stolen sum
All recovered items were handed over to Patong Police investigators for processing as part of the formal case record. Authorities said the suspect appeared to have been living at the hotel with the stolen cash and personal belongings.
Full confession and legal proceedings
Police reported that Huynh Van Chay admitted to being the person seen on the security footage and fully confessed to the theft. He was charged under Section 334 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, which covers theft offenses.
The suspect remained in custody pending a decision from the public prosecutor and the commencement of court proceedings. Investigators called the outcome a testament to coordinated policing in Phuket and a warning to offenders.
“THIS CASE SHOWS THAT WE ARE ALERT AND WILL ACT QUICKLY AGAINST CRIMES TARGETING RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS,”
a police spokesperson emphasized.
Authorities continue to stress that public safety and tourist confidence remain top priorities for local police, especially as Phuket prepares for peak travel season.