PATTAYA, Thailand – A 77-year-old Norwegian man has reported losing more than 5,000 baht after a man dressed similarly to a motorcycle taxi rider allegedly took cash from his wallet on Pratumnak Road in Pattaya, with the incident occurring at approximately 12:20 a.m. on August 24 opposite Pratumnak Soi 10.

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The victim, identified as Mr I. O., was walking home after exercising and waiting to cross the road about 200 metres from his residence when a Thai man wearing what appeared to be a motorcycle taxi vest rode against the traffic flow and stopped in front of him.

According to the victim’s 55-year-old Thai girlfriend, the suspect offered to take Mr Opseph home but was declined because he was close to his residence, after which the man claimed he had no money to buy food and asked for help. Mr O. intended to give him 20 baht, but as he opened his wallet, the suspect allegedly saw 1,000-baht notes, reached inside, and took more than 5,000 baht in cash before riding away against traffic towards the Pratumnak traffic-light junction.

The theft happened so quickly that Mr O. was unable to recall details of the motorcycle, its registration plate, or any number on the rider’s vest. The couple later filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police Station and asked police to check CCTV footage around the scene and the suspected escape route, expressing concern that the case might not progress.

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Mr O.’s girlfriend noted that he had previously been targeted in Jomtien Soi 5 several years ago when a gold necklace worth tens of thousands of baht was snatched, with a police report made at the time but the person responsible not found. Mr O. expressed feeling upset for believing the man, having lived in Thailand for more than 15 years and not expecting someone he tried to help to take his money, urging tourists and Pattaya residents to be especially cautious if strangers ask for money or try to get close to them.

-Thailand News (TN)