Foreign Couple Caught on CCTV Stealing Bag in Phuket

PHUKET — CCTV footage shared online has captured a foreign tourist couple stealing a backpack from outside a home in Thalang district, Phuket, prompting widespread public anger. The clip, posted on the Facebook page Hod Jung Phuket on 9 February, shows a foreign man and woman, believed to be a couple, riding a blue motorcycle into Somtam Rim Bueng alley in Mai Khao subdistrict at around 14:27 on 8 February. The man was seen wearing only trousers, while the woman appeared to be dressed in a swimsuit. The pair rode around the alley before returning against the flow of traffic. The man then got off the motorcycle, grabbed a backpack hanging in front of a house and handed it to the woman before fleeing the scene. The page warned tourists against such behaviour, quoting the homeowner as saying they were not seeking the bag's return but felt deeply disappointed by the incident. After the video went viral, many social media users condemned the act and called on authorities to track down the suspects and take legal action.