Thief snatches necklace from Russian tourist
Boonlua Chatree
A thief who snatched a Russian tourist’s necklace was caught by a passer-by in front of Pattaya Police Station.
Police received a report just after midnight on January 29 that a foreign visitor had apprehended a snatch-and-run thief outside their doors. Officers turned out and found Italian tourist Fasseha Pranuo, 64, detaining Noppadol Saentue, a 29-year-old native of Buriram. Police searched Noppadol and found a brass knuckle-duster.
Two women, Miss Rocpera, 54, and Miss Tatiana, 53, both Russian tourists, came up to take a look at the thief.
Rocpera told officers that she was walking along the beach and heading back to the Golden Beach Hotel with her friend. When they arrived at Tip Plaza, 500 meters from Pattaya Police Station, two men approached from behind and one of them snatched her diamond studded gold necklace, worth about 15,000 baht, snapping it in the process.
The two men ran off along the beach towards the police station, and the two women chased after them, screaming for help. Passer-by Pranuo, who saw the incident, gave chase and managed to catch up with and grab Noppadol, but the attacker who snatched the necklace made his escape with it.
Noppadol said that he had nothing to do with the attack. He said he had come to the beach looking for a service girl with a man named Ton, whose real name he didn’t know. He said he gave money to Ton to pay for the girl. He then saw Ton snatch the necklace and make a run for it. Out of fear of losing the money that he paid for the girl he ran after him and was grabbed.
The women and other witnesses, however, had a more credible story, and Noppadol was charged with theft. Police are looking for Ton.

Pattaya Mail