Former Watch Seller Arrested For iPhone Theft At Buddhist Temple
A 38-year-old former watch seller was arrested for stealing an iPhone 16 Pro Max from a tourist at Bangkok's Wat Pho temple in February, with investigators linking him to at least three similar thefts at the same location.
Police arrested 38-year-old Vunchai on July 1 on a court arrest warrant dated June 10, charging him with theft at a public shrine. The arrest came after an American tourist filed a complaint on February 13, reporting that his iPhone 16 Pro Max was stolen from inside Wat Pho temple on Maharaj Road in Bangkok's Pranakorn District. Investigators reviewed security camera footage to identify the suspect before issuing an arrest warrant and locating him.
During questioning, Vunchai claimed he was formerly a watch seller who became interested in Buddha amulets and visited amulet markets, including Tha Phra Chan Market, to resell items. On the day of the incident, he entered Wat Pho to pray and wait for transportation home to Bang Khae. He claimed he found the phone abandoned at the base of a Buddha statue, took it, and sold it as a used device for 800 baht.
Investigators determined he had committed similar thefts three times at Wat Pho between January and February. In the first incident, he stole a tourist's wallet. In the second incident, he stole a mobile phone. In the third incident, he stole another mobile phone. After the third incident, he attempted to enter the temple again but was pursued by security guards and fled. He has now been taken into police custody for legal proceedings.
