Gold thieves had another bumper week in Pattaya with both a Chinese tour guide and a BMW sedan owner losing their expensive chains to drive by snatch thieves.
Tour guide Tao Yingjie, 34, complained to police that he was riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle taxi on Petchtakul Road at 2.30 a.m. April 24 when a thief rode by and grabbed his necklace valued at 100,000 baht.
Taxi driver Tai Donsang, 44, said he pursued the thief, but the gold snatcher escaped. Police also were unable to locate the thief and are reviewing CCTV footage as part of their investigation.
Six hours earlier, at 8 p.m. April 23 just a few km away, Yuttakarn Klanman said he was getting into his BMW at the Pla Thong seafood restaurant in Naklua when he was approached by a youth on a motorbike who grabbed his 3-baht-weight gold chain and Buddha amulet worth more than 100,000 baht.
Police blocked off local roads, but the hoodlum escaped.
Officers said they are investigating but implored people not to wear expensive gold jewelry around town, or at least be more careful if they want to flash their wealth.
