BANGKOK, THAILAND – Viral video footage showed three women stealing from a tourist in Chinatown while hiding their actions behind an umbrella.
Pickpocketing incident caught on camera
The video, shared by Chanatib Bunpasoet-chn, showed the theft on Songwat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown. The three suspects wore hats and face masks to conceal their identities.
Their key tool was an umbrella, which they used to block the view of the theft. This allowed them to move largely unnoticed within the dense crowd.
Seconds-long theft targeting foreign tourist
One woman, identifiable by a brown T-shirt, skillfully approached a foreign tourist. With practiced fingers, she opened the tourist’s bag and removed valuables.
She immediately passed the items to an accomplice, making the entire sequence quick and barely visible. The tourist only realised something was wrong when the thief tried to reach into the bag a second time.
Victim reacts, but stolen items already gone
When the woman in the brown T-shirt attempted another grab, the bag’s owner sensed that something was not right and moved away from the group. By then, the first theft had already been completed.
The exact value of the stolen belongings was not known, and it remained unclear whether the tourist filed a complaint with the police.
Separate arrests of foreign pickpocket suspects
In a parallel development, police recently arrested two Vietnamese nationals in the Din Daeng district on suspicion of pickpocketing. A security guard at Wat Pho had noticed their suspicious behaviour.
The two admitted entering Thailand illegally and planning further thefts. Authorities treated the case as part of broader concerns over organised street crime targeting visitors.
Authorities highlight risks in crowded hotspots
The incident served as a reminder of the dangers in overcrowded tourist hotspots. Extra caution was advised in Chinatown, markets and temples.
Visitors were urged to carry valuables close to the body, preferably in closed inner pockets, and to be wary of people who came unusually close in crowds.
What tourists can do in case of theft
The public was encouraged to react immediately in the event of a theft.
“If you witness a theft or become a victim yourself, call loudly for help at once and alert the police on 191.”
said local security guidance.
People were also urged to report suspicious behaviour to on-site security staff. The Thai tourist police were reachable on 1155, with officials urging visitors to stay alert while still enjoying their trips safely.