PHUKET: A brazen thief stole from rooms at a large Phuket resort last night as police officers were diverted by a gala dinner for international airport executives.
An inside job is suspected because the thief knew how to avoid security cameras and chose a busy time to carry out the resort room robberies.
Today as police tallied the items stolen, a senior Phuket tourism official warned all resorts that a gang of thieves is believed to be active on Phuket.
''The gang has one member apply for a job then the other strike once the new employee has sized up the resort's security,'' said Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourism Association.
He warned resorts to be certain of the honesty of new staff and to make sure there were no gaps in security camera coverage.
Last night's thief struck at the Kata Beach Resort and Spa as senior police dined among 300 guests from the eighth annual Airports Council International Asia-Pacific conference and exhibition, being held on Phuket until today.
The eight first-floor rooms raided by the brazen thief were occupied by Australians, according to officers from Karon Police Station, with one room occupied by honeymooners.
The theft of some passports will mean those victims having to go to Bangkok for replacements.
Kata Beach Resort and Spa is the centre for social activities during the Phuket King's Cup each year, in early December. It sits on the beachfront and has a range of facilities, as enjoyed by last night's gala diners.
Sources said today that the thief knew last night's big event for international guests from more than 30 countries would leave the resort's security staff fully stretched.
The occupants of the eight rooms were out of the resort, having dinner.
''The gang now operating on Phuket usually infiltrates staff then chooses the time between 6pm and 9pm, when staff are at their busiest, to strike,'' Khun Bhuritt said.
An inside job is suspected because the thief knew how to avoid security cameras and chose a busy time to carry out the resort room robberies.
Today as police tallied the items stolen, a senior Phuket tourism official warned all resorts that a gang of thieves is believed to be active on Phuket.
''The gang has one member apply for a job then the other strike once the new employee has sized up the resort's security,'' said Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourism Association.
He warned resorts to be certain of the honesty of new staff and to make sure there were no gaps in security camera coverage.
Last night's thief struck at the Kata Beach Resort and Spa as senior police dined among 300 guests from the eighth annual Airports Council International Asia-Pacific conference and exhibition, being held on Phuket until today.
The eight first-floor rooms raided by the brazen thief were occupied by Australians, according to officers from Karon Police Station, with one room occupied by honeymooners.
The theft of some passports will mean those victims having to go to Bangkok for replacements.
Kata Beach Resort and Spa is the centre for social activities during the Phuket King's Cup each year, in early December. It sits on the beachfront and has a range of facilities, as enjoyed by last night's gala diners.
Sources said today that the thief knew last night's big event for international guests from more than 30 countries would leave the resort's security staff fully stretched.
The occupants of the eight rooms were out of the resort, having dinner.
''The gang now operating on Phuket usually infiltrates staff then chooses the time between 6pm and 9pm, when staff are at their busiest, to strike,'' Khun Bhuritt said.
