BANGKOK, THAILAND – Police arrested a 33-year-old man accused of snatching a young British tourist’s handbag from a motorcycle in December and later telling officers he needed the money to support two wives.
Arrest outside convenience store on 2 March
Officers from the Bang Rak Police Station detained the suspect on 2 March at about 7:20 p.m. in front of a 7-Eleven in Soi Prachasongkhro 23 in Din Daeng district.
Police said the arrest was carried out under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on 27 February on a charge of robbery.
The man had already been the subject of a search based on that warrant, according to investigators.
Robbery on Surawong Road
The investigation stemmed from a report filed by a 21-year-old British woman, who dated the robbery to 13 December 2025.
She told police she was walking at about 12:50 p.m. along Surawong Road, opposite the Grand Centre Point Surawong Hotel, when a motorcycle rider approached from behind, grabbed her bag and sped away.
Officers said the case illustrated how quickly valuables on busy Bangkok streets could become targets when assailants on motorcycles struck without warning, particularly in tourist areas.
Stolen items: phone, jewelry and cash
According to police, the handbag contained a silver iPhone 17 Pro Max, two Pandora bracelets worth around 60,000 baht in total, and 3,000 baht in cash.
Investigators said these details were based on the victim’s account during the complaint process.
They added that the incident had raised concerns among visitors over the safety of carrying high-value items in crowded downtown districts.
Investigation and arrest warrant
Investigators stated they first gathered evidence and then applied for the arrest warrant against Thanit “Nui” Meesaeng.
After the arrest, the man was questioned and allegedly admitted to the robbery, saying his income as an app-based motorcycle taxi driver was not sufficient.
Police said this admission formed part of the case file supporting the robbery charge.
Claimed motive: money for two wives
During questioning, the suspect allegedly told officers he needed money to support two wives.
“He said he needed money to provide for two wives,”
said police investigators, summarising the content of the interrogation.
Officers presented this statement as part of his confession but did not give further details on whether or how the claim had been verified.
Prior record and next legal steps
A background check reportedly showed the man had previously come to police attention in a similar case in the Nang Loeng area.
The suspect was handed over to investigators at Bang Rak Police Station for further legal proceedings in the ongoing case.
Police said swift investigative work in Bangkok’s tourist zones was crucial to prevent motorcycle robbers from feeling they could act with impunity.
They highlighted Surawong Road as one location where authorities continued to weigh stronger monitoring against relying on consistent enforcement after such crimes occur.