PHUKET: A WOMAN who stalled police with tears at the door to a four-storey warehouse of Phuket copy goods failed to prevent officers using a crowbar to open the pirate treasure trove yesterday.

But when the officers entered, a vast array of copy watches appeared to have vanished - and police noted the hole in the ceiling that could have provided an escape route for someone carrying the fake brand items.

A Nepalese man loitering suspiciously was arrested along with Sanom Haiyoot, 32, whose performance at the entrance delayed police from opening the door with a crowbar.

During the drama in Patong's Soi Mor Wattana (Doctor Wattana Lane) off the beach road, two female tourists noted the crowd of onlookers and sauntered in to check out the prices of sunglasses.

Most of the illicit loot in the large warehouse consisted of luggage and branded bags bearing Louis Vuitton and other well-known upmarket labels. Police quickly packed the bags off into black plastic and the backs of pickups.

Looking on was Thailand's Director-General of Intellectual Property, Pajimachima Thanasanti, who came on the raid with Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong.

Tourists sometimes take pleasure in returning home with imitation brand goods, as well as copies of recent movie and music releases.

But the cash they pay goes to the copiers, not to the people who created the originals.

In recent weeks, raids on pirate stores have become more frequent. More broadly, two Bangkok inquiries are now also underway into corruption on Phuket.