PATTAYA: A drug-user has been charged with stealing the clothes, money and mobile phone of two Thai tourists who went swimming at a beach here on Sunday night, leaving them with only their underpants.
Neng Somsoda, 39, was apprehended at a rented room in Soi Na Klua 27, in Bang Lamung district, Pol Col Apichai Krobphet, Pattaya city police chief, said on Wednesday.
The suspect was later taken to the beach behind the Dusit Resort Hotel in Pattaya-Na Klua area for a crime re-enactment.
Ponlawat Saeng-ard, 42, a programmer, and Cheewin Homchan, 23, a university student, both from Chiang Mai, were left with only the underpants they were wearing after going for a brief swim on Sunday night.
They had left their clothes, a mobile phone and wallets containing 1,800 baht cash on a rock on the beach.
They weren't there when they returned. People living nearby lent them towels to keep out the chill.
Police said Mr Neng still had the stolen phone in his possession. He said he had already spent the money buying illicit drugs.
He had a criminal record, having been caught six times before for drug use, theft and gambling.
After the re-enactment, Pol Col Apichai checked out the beach and greeted Thai and foreign tourists there.
The Pattaya city police chief asked them not to swim in the area at night, as it was unlit and they might not be safe.
Thai media reported that Mr Neng admitted he took the clothes that night and hid them by another rock, to make sure the two men did not chase him for the stolen money and phone.