AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND – An Indian tourist’s bag was stolen at a revered temple in Ayutthaya, leading to the swift arrest of a tuk-tuk driver with a prior record.
Theft at reclining Buddha shrine
A 43-year-old Indian man was visiting the historic Wat Lokayasutharam temple with his wife when he forgot his brown shoulder bag in front of the large reclining Buddha statue.
“I put the bag down to take photos,”
said the visibly shaken tourist. When he noticed the bag was missing, he immediately alerted his tour guide.
The bag contained 8,000 baht (about 250 US dollars) in cash, credit cards, his Indian ID card and the hotel key card. For the visitor, this marked the beginning of an ordeal.
CCTV footage identifies suspect
Investigators reviewed security cameras at the temple. The images clearly showed a tuk-tuk driver parking nearby, getting out and taking the bag.
He then drove away. Police traced the suspect to a 60-year-old driver named Thitaphan.
Confession and missing evidence
Officers found him at his home in the partially flooded Pak Kran district, where he immediately confessed. Thitaphan admitted taking the cash from the bag and throwing the credit cards and documents into a trash bin behind the Phra Mongkhon Bophit temple.
When officers checked the bin, however, the rubbish had already been collected, and that trail was lost. Only the empty bag, the charger and about 3,000 baht (roughly 95 US dollars) in cash were recovered.
Driver’s history of similar incidents
The investigation revealed that the tuk-tuk driver was already known to authorities. He had a prior history of similar incidents.
“These included thefts from passengers and abandoning tourists in the middle of trips,”
said the police. Up to now, these cases had been settled privately.
This time, authorities said they did not intend to show any leniency.
Rapid police response praised
The tourist police and local officers acted quickly, and the suspect was arrested in less than an hour after the theft was reported. The victim’s tour guide expressed strong appreciation for their work.
“I always warn tourists not to put anything on the ground. But he simply forgot. The police were fantastic.”
said the tour guide. While the case ended without further harm, it left concerns about damage to Ayutthaya’s tourism image.
Warning to Thailand visitors
The incident served as a clear warning to all visitors to Thailand never to leave valuables unattended. Even at seemingly safe locations such as temples, risks can arise.
Tourists were urged to use hotel safes for important items. While Thai police showed determination in this case, the report stressed that personal vigilance remained the best protection against theft.