PHUKET: The young Phuket thief found himself trying to rob the wrong tourist today on the beach road in Karon, near the tsunami warning tower.
It has been one of the most popular Phuket spots in the past for bag snatchers and for quick getaways on a motorcycle, especially with a partner ready to take off.
But about 9am today the young would-be-thief came alone, and had to park his motorcycle. Confronting a tourist with a cardboard cutter, he copped a punch in the face in response to his request for cash.
Locals on the road nearby spotted what was happening. As the young thief tried to escape, local vendors, including a Phuket lifeguard, headed him off.
They forced him to stretch out face-down on the footpath until a Phuket police patrol arrived.
The tourist? He wandered off to the beach or to his resort, not too fussed about Phuket's least impressive armed robber.
The whole day turned out to be filled with good news about tourism on Phuket for a change, with a Phuket taxi driver, Nopkran Sawatraksa, reuniting Egyptian tourist Medhat Eldjasti, 25, with his bag containing his wallet and a camera worth 85,000 baht.
Mr Eldjasti, heading to Phuket International Airport on Sunday to meet friends, left his bag in the Pisona group taxi.
Today, he got his bag back, thanks to an honest Phuket taxi driver from Patong's Jungceylon rank.
Phuket 'Needs White Tuk-Tuks to Set Higher Standards'It has been one of the most popular Phuket spots in the past for bag snatchers and for quick getaways on a motorcycle, especially with a partner ready to take off.
But about 9am today the young would-be-thief came alone, and had to park his motorcycle. Confronting a tourist with a cardboard cutter, he copped a punch in the face in response to his request for cash.
Locals on the road nearby spotted what was happening. As the young thief tried to escape, local vendors, including a Phuket lifeguard, headed him off.
They forced him to stretch out face-down on the footpath until a Phuket police patrol arrived.
The tourist? He wandered off to the beach or to his resort, not too fussed about Phuket's least impressive armed robber.
The whole day turned out to be filled with good news about tourism on Phuket for a change, with a Phuket taxi driver, Nopkran Sawatraksa, reuniting Egyptian tourist Medhat Eldjasti, 25, with his bag containing his wallet and a camera worth 85,000 baht.
Mr Eldjasti, heading to Phuket International Airport on Sunday to meet friends, left his bag in the Pisona group taxi.
Today, he got his bag back, thanks to an honest Phuket taxi driver from Patong's Jungceylon rank.
Latest Phuket's mostly red and yellow tuk-tuks should be painted white when higher standards were achieved. Drivers needed educational seminars, a Governor's advisory committee hears.
Phuket 'Needs White Tuk-Tuks to Set Higher Standards'
CITY MANHUNT Phuket Police Pursuing 'I Have a Bomb' Bank Bandit
Breaking News Phuket City police are hunting a bandit who attempted to rob a bank right on 3.30pm closing time and was refused entry. The would-be bandit rode off and is being hunted.
CITY MANHUNT Phuket Police Pursuing 'I Have a Bomb' Bank Bandit
Korean Honeymoon Couples Need Phuket 'Intensive Care'
Latest Korean guides were best for Korean honeymooners at the moment because the couples need ''intensive care,'' says Korea's man on Phuket.
Korean Honeymoon Couples Need Phuket 'Intensive Care'
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Attack: No Total Recall
Latest A German expat who was knocked into a coma in a savage attack after he disputed whether a 200 baht tuk-tuk fare should be 100 baht is now out of a Phuket intensive care unit.
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Attack: No Total Recall
So the moral of this heartwarming tale is that we shouldn't Pisona group taxi but we should Pisona tuk-tuk?
Posted by Sir Marmaduke on September 12, 2011 23:24
Editor Comment:
Your morals are fortunately your own affair, Sir Marmaduke.