CHIANG MAI - A student has been arrested for stealing a bag belonging to a Chinese tourist visiting the northern city.
Jirasak Wungchai, sitting, is arrested by police after snatching a bag from a Chinese tourist in Chiang Mai city on Wednesday. (Photo by Cheewin Sattha)
Jin Wen Ling filed a complaint on Wednesday night saying a man approached her on a motorbike and stole her bag containing cash, a camera and important documents.
Chiang Mai police used footage from nearby CCTV cameras to identify the thief as Jirasak Wungchai, 26, Pol Col Weerawut Niamnoi, deputy chief of Chiang Mai police force, said on Thursday
Authorities retrieved the camera and documents but the cash was not found. They also seized the motorbike used to commit the crime.
Mr Jirasak was working as a cashier while waiting to take a test to become a civil servant after graduating with a Bachelor's degree in political science from Sukhothai Thammathirat University last year.
He confessed that prior to the incident he pawned his girlfriend's laptop because he needed money. When his girlfriend found out, she gave him three days to return her computer or she would break up with him, he told the police.
The situation led him to snatch Mrs Ling's purse to obtain money to get back the notebook, Mr Jirasak said.