A man posing as a motorcycle taxi driver robbed a 77-year-old Norwegian tourist in Pattaya. He claimed he had no money for food, then stole more than 5,000 baht.
The robbery happened at 12.19am on August 24, near Phra Tamnak Soi 10 in Nong Prue, Banglamung district, Chonburi province.
Police identified the victim as Mr Ingar Opseph, who has lived in Thailand for more than 15 years. He was walking home after exercising, about 200 metres from his house, when the attack happened.
His Thai girlfriend, 55, told reporters he was waiting to cross the road when the incident began. A Thai man in a vest resembling a motorcycle taxi driver’s uniform rode up against traffic and stopped in front of him.
The man offered Opseph a ride home, which he declined because his house was close by. He then claimed he had no money to buy food and asked for help.
Opseph opened his wallet to hand over 20 baht. The man spotted several 1,000-baht notes inside and grabbed a handful of cash. He sped off against traffic toward the Phra Tamnak intersection with more than 5,000 baht.
The theft happened so fast that Opseph could not make out the man’s licence plate or vest number.
The couple reported the theft to Pol Lt Col Itthikorn Saikrathok, an inquiry officer at Pattaya City Police Station. They also spoke to local media, worried the case would stall without public attention.
Opseph was robbed once before, losing a gold necklace to a snatch thief in Soi Jomtien 5 several years ago. That case was never solved, he said.
He said he felt foolish for trusting the man, given his 15 years living in Thailand. He had not expected his kindness to be repaid with theft, and urged Pattaya police to check CCTV footage along the escape route.
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