Alert: Thieves gangs target foreign tourists in Thailand

Iranian thieves are targeting foreign tourists in Thailand with the same theft techniques you need to know.

An Iranian couple recently tricked and stole money from foreign tourists in Bangkok, first asking them to see their wallets in order to exchange the money.

They adopted the same technique as in two previous cases this year where the suspects were also Iranian.

It is therefore possible that a network of Iranian thieves, trained in the same techniques, is targeting foreign tourists in Thailand.

Police officers from Bangkok's Thonglor Police Station revealed on Thursday, October 17, that they had arrested Iranian couple Mr. Mirazim, 51, and Ms. Afsaneh, 47, near Sukhumvit Road Soi 33 at 8:30 p.m. on October 16.

In the previous cases, the first victim was Chinese (the perpetrators were an Iranian duo), and the next was Russian (the perpetrator was an Iranian man).

In this latest case, the last victim was a Saudi tourist.

The couple were accused of joint robbery at night, with a 500 Saudi riyal note as evidence.

Previously, police received reports of several tourists on different days and times around Asoke intersection and along Sukhumvit Road, between Lanes 21 and 35.

The victims said foreign suspects approached them, engaged them in conversation, asked to see their money, and were then distracted and robbed.

The interrogation of the victims revealed that the couple's tactic was to target foreign tourists.

They would approach them, ask them to exchange money and, while one of them distracted the victim by talking, the other would steal his money.

Victims usually realized the theft after the fact.

Police operation to arrest Iranian thieves

CCTV footage shows an Iranian couple arguing with a Saudi man and demanding to see the money in his wallet, before stealing it while he was distracted, on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok on October 16, 2024.

On October 16, 2024, undercover police officers conducted surveillance in order to apprehend the suspects.

At around 8:30 p.m., near Sukhumvit Soi 33, they saw the couple approach a Saudi tourist and engage in conversation with him.

Mr. Mirazim took the victim's wallet and opened it, while Ms. Afsaneh distracted the Saudi man by talking to him.

The Saudi tourist did not notice that the Iranian had secretly withdrawn money from his wallet.

The officers then intervened and asked the Saudi to check his wallet.

He discovered that a 500 riyal note (122.88 euros) was missing.

The two suspects then tried to flee, but the police ordered them to stop and conducted a search.

Mr. Mirazim quickly tried to throw the note on the ground to destroy the evidence, but the police seized it in time.

Mr. Mirazim then admitted that the money thrown belonged to the Saudi.

Background checks revealed that the couple had previously committed similar crimes in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province.

The police arrested them for theft and handed them over to investigators for prosecution.

The charge of night robbery committed by two or more people carries a heavier penalty of 1 to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 (557 euros) to 140,000 baht (3,903 euros).

Offenders must also pay compensation for stolen property.

Initially, the police asked the suspects to return the money to the Saudi tourist.

It may seem naive to show your money to strangers, but the theft technique was not clearly explained.

It seems that the thieves first talk about an exchange of money, a foreign currency to be exchanged for baht for example, with surely the offer of a financial advantage for the victim to gain their confidence.

Finally, the important thing to remember is to avoid showing your money to strangers.

See also:

Scams in Thailand: Know them and protect yourself

Transgender pickpockets continue to rob tourists in Thailand

Thailand: Police help tourist victim of monkey thief in Phuket

Thai woman arrested for drugging and robbing foreign tourist

Thailand: Tourist thief arrested after 14 years of activity

Vietnamese gang robbed tourists at famous temple in Thailand

Source: Khaosod English