BANGKOK, THAILAND – A Cartier wristwatch worth about 350,000 baht that was reported stolen in Bangkok was later found safely in a hotel and returned to its owner.
Tourist reports high-value watch missing
On 18 February, Dutch tourist Hakan Kasap filed a complaint at Yan Nawa Police Station, stating that his valuable Cartier watch had been stolen. He told investigators he had placed the watch and other personal items on a table in a treatment room at the Health Land Sathorn massage facility on North Sathorn Road at about 3:30 p.m. on 17 February.
Suspected theft triggers police investigation
On the morning of 18 February, at around 9:00 a.m., Kasap noticed the watch was missing and assumed it had been taken. Officers at Yan Nawa Police Station opened a case of suspected theft and began reconstructing the tourist’s movements around his visit to the massage business.
CCTV footage contradicts theft claim
When police reviewed surveillance cameras inside Health Land Sathorn, they found that Kasap had placed his personal belongings, including the Cartier watch, into his own bag before leaving the premises. According to the police, no other person appeared on the footage taking the watch, so unauthorized access to the item inside the shop could not be established.
Investigators track trail to Ashton Silom hotel
In the next step, investigators examined surveillance images along the tourist’s route back to his accommodation, the Ashton Silom hotel. Their review eventually led them into the hotel complex, where the expensive wristwatch was discovered on the premises as a lost item and secured by the investigation unit of Yan Nawa Police Station.
Formal handover and case closure
On 19 February, station chief Pol Col Pansa Amarapitak ordered a formal handover of the recovered watch. Deputy investigation chief Pol Lt Col Arthit Chartnakrob, together with Pol Lt Col Kijjapat Phongphatthanakitja and Pol Lt Col Suphakitti Kongchuen, returned the watch, valued at about 350,000 baht, to Kasap.
“The tourist expressly thanked the investigators and praised their swift work.”
said Yan Nawa police, adding that the agency clarified there had been no theft in this case.
Police call incident a misunderstanding
Officials stated that their investigation had clearly shown the watch was not stolen but merely lost. With the luxury item back in the owner’s possession, Yan Nawa police considered the incident resolved and formally closed the case.