A NORWEGIAN tourist who fled to Patong Hill during Wednesday's tsunami alert was robbed by a Good Samaritan at knifepoint of cash and goods with a total value of 90,000 baht.

The Good Samaritan, a fellow tourist from Tunisia, stopped to give the Norwegian a lift on his motorcycle as they fled the threat of a big wave sweeping in on Phuket's prime holiday destination.

Then, police said, the Tunisian suggested they stop to buy a couple of beers in case they had to wait a while at the top of the hill.

It was about 7.30am, but clearly not too early for a drink. When the beers had gone, the Tunisian stopped being a Good Samaritan.

According to police, soon after the final sip he produced a knife, put the point to the throat of the Norwegian, and proceeded to take from him 18,000 baht in cash, a mobile phone and an expensive laptop.

The good news was that the tsunami never arrived. The bad news was that the Norwegian, named by police as Holand Amund Nopsk Norwllgan, 32, lost everything anyway.

However, Patong police were quickly into action and at 2am today in Soi Bangla they arrested the Tunisian, Medi Ita, 24. From the description provided by the alleged victim, police believed they knew the identity of the perpetrator, who had been in trouble before.

The Tunisian had been on Phuket for several months, police said. Officers said the man denied committing the crime, but had been identified by the victim.

The tsunami alert was a time for increased crime. Two Norwegians who paused at an internet shop in Patong yesterday morning to check on what was happening regarding the tsunami had two bags stolen, with their passports inside.

Police named the victims as Henrik Loursch Strgnd, 25, and Jamie Sorensen, 23.