BANGKOK, THAILAND – A British tourist in Bangkok helped apprehend two suspected robbers after they allegedly stole his gold chain in a busy nightlife district.
Early-morning robbery in Sukhumvit
It was around 6:15 a.m. on 28 December when 29-year-old Briton Liam Robertson left the “Dubai” restaurant in Sukhumvit Soi 4 and tried to hail a taxi. Two men approached him, pretended to know him and started a conversation. Suddenly they grabbed him, tore a gold chain worth 150,000 Baht (about 3,750 euros) from his neck and fled into an alley.
Tourist and locals chase down suspects
Robertson did not give up; he shouted for help and ran after the fleeing men. Several attentive passers-by and local residents responded and joined the pursuit. Together they managed to corner and restrain the two men near a 7-Eleven store before police arrived, bringing the immediate danger to an end.
Police recover stolen chain under vendor’s cart
Police led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom took custody of the detained suspects. The men were identified as Fahdi Khaled (29) and Marwan Aouissaoui (32), both from Tunisia; no other illegal items were found during a search. Under pressure, they admitted they had quickly disposed of the chain by pushing it under a street vendor’s cart, where police later recovered it and returned it to the victim.
Security concerns in Bangkok tourist hotspots
The incident highlighted the security situation in tourist hotspots of Bangkok, where Sukhumvit Road is highly popular with visitors but also attracts criminals. The Tunisian nationality of the suspects was seen as an indication of a potentially internationally active offender profile targeting wealthy tourists. Police charged the two men with theft and brought them to Lumphini Police Station, where investigations were set to continue.
Similar chain snatchings reported in Pattaya
This robbery was not an isolated case; police in Pattaya had recently arrested a Briton accused of snatching gold chains from tourists there. The methods were reported as similar: quick attacks in crowded areas, often using motorcycles as getaway vehicles. The loot in such cases tended to be valuable gold jewellery, which has raised concern within Thailand’s tourism industry about damage to the country’s image as a safe destination.
Warning to would-be offenders and visiting tourists
The swift arrest was described as sending a clear message that public vigilance was high and that police responded quickly. Tourists were strongly advised to wear valuable jewellery discreetly and remain especially alert in busy areas. For Liam Robertson, the morning ended positively, with his chain back in his possession and the knowledge that he had successfully resisted the attack.
Risky courage raises safety questions
Editors stressed that Robertson’s behaviour had been risky and that he could have been injured, advising against imitation of such actions. The case illustrated how quickly seemingly harmless conversations could turn into criminal incidents. It also raised the broader question of whether such pursuits should be seen as civil courage or as potentially dangerous recklessness for tourists and locals alike.