PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket resort worker early today who confessed to stealing cash from a safe in a Russian tourist's room and other thefts.

Tatlana Gorhkova, 31, found her cash was missing when she opened the safe in her room at the Phunaka Resort and Spa at 1pm yesterday.

She reported the theft of 10,000 baht, $US100 and 6000 rubles to Karon Police Station, on the beach road.

Officers immediately began an investigation and discovered that the master key for nine rooms was missing from reception.

Eliminating suspects one by one, their focus of attention moved eventually to resort engineer and repairman Suriyan Senamongkol, 28, who was pulled in for questioning soon after midnight.

After three hours of solid questioning, Khun Suriyan confessed to the theft - and to others.

He said he believed tourists could usually recover the stolen money in insurance claims.

In any case, he said, he sometimes left some money in the safes so tourists wouldn't be too upset. However, in Miss Gorhkova's case, he took the lot.

She was very pleased to return to the police station today to collect her cash.