A SOUTH AFRICAN who stole a camera from two Australian tourists on a Phuket beach found it difficult to justify his theft yesterday.

The man, who gave his name to police as Steven Standen, 27, said he ''lost his stuff'' and was so desperate that he took a Sony Cybershot from a bag belonging to Lisa Romeo while she and a friend were in the water at Nai Harn beach.

A beach attendant who spotted the theft about 10.30am pursued and apprehended Mr Standen, with the help of lifeguards, before he could get away.

Ms Romeo, a frequent visitor to Phuket, was swimming with her female friend, a first-time visitor, at the northern end of the beach.

Later yesterday, Ms Romeo confronted Mr Standen at Chalong police station. He told police he had been staying at Nai Harn village but a male friend had left for Bangkok yesterday morning. He had previously ''lost all my stuff.''

Ms Romeo was not impressed and said that Mr Standen could have gone to Tourist Police or to regular police rather than steal from another expat on a beach.

''It's so bad for people to steal,'' she said, ''let alone a westerner stealing from another westerner.''

Mr Standen told police he was four-and-a-half months into a six-month stay in Thailand.

He said this was his first theft, but he appeared to be reluctant to take police to the place where he had been living.

He also told police that he had two passports, the second being with his mother in South Africa. He planned to call her and ask her to send money.

Inquiries are continuing.