BANGKOK, THAILAND – A tourist from Hong Kong was violently robbed of her shoulder bag while riding in a moving tuk tuk near Supachalasai Stadium, prompting a police search for two motorcyclists and a review of CCTV footage.
Robbery in tuk tuk near Supachalasai Stadium
According to Pathum Wan police station, the woman reported the incident at around 1.47 a.m., stating that two men on a motorcycle had snatched her shoulder bag as she travelled in a tuk tuk on the road opposite Supachalasai Stadium.
The robbery took place in the central Pathum Wan district, known for heavy traffic and large numbers of tourists. The suspects reportedly fled towards the Pathum Wan intersection immediately after grabbing the bag.
Description of suspects and stolen items
Police described the suspects as two men of strong build riding a motorcycle without a license plate. The rider was said to be wearing a red top, while the passenger wore a white top, with no further details on the vehicle initially available.
The stolen bag contained, according to the victim, a wallet with around 10,000 baht in cash and her passport, which is crucial for exit and entry formalities.
Victim’s account and injury
The woman told officers she had been seated in the tuk tuk when the motorcycle approached closely and one of the men suddenly grabbed her shoulder bag, yanking it forcefully away from her.
She tried to hold on to the bag but could not prevent the theft and tore a fingernail in the struggle, after which she filed a report immediately with the police.
Police investigation in Pathum Wan
Police in Pathum Wan officially recorded the incident and instructed investigators to review CCTV footage around the stadium and along the escape route in order to identify the two men.
The aim of the police was to locate the suspects and gather evidence to prosecute them for robbery in criminal court, according to broadcaster Amarin TV.
Failed handbag snatch in Bang Khen
In a separate case in the northern district of Bang Khen, officers arrested a 25-year-old man after a failed handbag robbery, following a collision with a civilian vehicle during his attempted escape on a motorcycle. He sustained a head injury in the crash, police said.
The victim, a local woman, stated she had been about to unlock her bicycle under a pedestrian bridge when the man passed her on a blue Honda Wave, grabbed at her handbag and tried unsuccessfully to flee with it.