Light-fingered Aussie couple nabbed in Patong

PATONG, PHUKET: An Australian man and his wife were arrested yesterday afternoon for shoplifting gold and diamond jewelry from shops in Patong and other parts of the island.

Pol Lt Col Sakhon Bandisak of the Kathu Police identified the couple as 32-year-old Kimberley Clintjames and his wife Tran Anhchi Thi, age 34.

The pair were arrested at 4 pm as Mrs Thi was attempting to sell off a stolen gold necklace at the Yaowarat Gold Shop on Sainamyen Rd in Patong.

Mr Clintjames, who was waiting outside the shop, tried to run away but was caught by police.

Seized as evidence were four diamond rings, two gold necklaces and other merchandise including hats, a T-shirt and sunglasses stolen from a shop in Patong’s Jungceylon shopping plaza.

A search of the couple’s room at the Patong Premier Resort uncovered several other stolen items.

The pair confessed to charges of shoplifting, saying they stole the jewelry and sold it to pay for daily expenses during their vacation.

They told police that they had also stolen items from shops at Central Festival before they were arrested.

The pair had sold a 3-bahtweight gold necklace to the same (Yaowarat) gold shop last Thursday.

The investigation followed a number of complaints made by shop owners, four of whom have already positively identified the couple.

Following the arrest, Kathu Police Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark urged goldshops to heighten security by installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras.