Phuket Police praised for quick work in Brazilian snatch case

PHUKET: Phuket Police have been praised for their quick work in arresting two youths after a Brazilian tourist had her camera snatched in Kata early Monday morning.

Officers led by Karon Police Deputy Superintendent Sophon Borirak arrested Karon resident Kanin Kongchana, 22, and a 15-year-old Myanmar national at a rented room in Patong at 7pm Tuesday.

The pair were found in possession of a Nikon camera stolen from Brazilian tourist Rosemary Maria Cabrera.

“Early Monday morning, Ms Cabrera reported that her Nikon camera had been snatched by two men on a motorbike on Soi Ket Kwan [map here],” said Lt Col Sophon.

“After receiving the report, we checked CCTV cameras in the area and saw two men on a red-and-black Yamaha Fino motorbike snatch the camera from Ms Cabrera while she was walking along the street,” Col Sophon said.

“We tracked the thieves down and found out where they were staying. They have both confessed that they stole Ms Cabrera’s camera,” he added.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat, the island’s top-ranking policeman, praised Karon Police for working so quickly on the case, arresting the thieves within 48 hours.

“The incident might have caused Ms Cabrera to have a bad impression of Phuket. However, the officers arrested the thieves quickly, and Ms Cabrera is very appreciative of how they performed their duties,” Maj Gen Choti said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong