CHON BURI - A Finnish couple on their first day in Pattaya fell victim to a street thief, who snatched two gold necklaces worth about 50,000 baht from the wife's neck early on Thursday afternoon.
They were robbed on Soi Wat Bunkanchanaram in Bang Lamung district about 1.30pm, police said.
Raimo Kalevi, 53, and her husband Eilo Mario, 51, still looked shocked when police arrived at the scene.
Mrs Kaveli, who sustained bruises on her neck, said she and her husband had arrived in Pattaya on Thursday morning. After checking in at their accommodation they went out shopping in the area nearby.
They were in the middle of the road, crossing back to their room, when a Thai man on a motorcycle suddenly snatched her two gold necklaces and fled away. The stolen necklaces were worth about 50,000 baht.
A witness, Natpairat Pengpinit, told police he heard the tourists shouting for help, rushed out to look and saw the thief fleeing on the bike.
The theft was filmed by a surveillance camera at his accommodation, Mr Natpairat said.
There were several hotels and rented rooms in the area, and many tourists stayed there, he said. Theft from tourists was not uncommon, despite the closed-circuit television cameras installed in the area to deter crime, said Mr Natpairat.
Only a few days ago, Pattaya police were ordered to step up vigilance and arrest snatchers after several tourists visiting the beach city fell prey to them.