Yes, that’s him. The man who
picked my pocket.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Jailed once already for pick-pocketing, a South Pattaya flower vendor is
again behind bars for allegedly lifting 780 baht from the pocket of a
Finnish tourist.
Chang Chompoo, 32, was arrested by Pattaya tourist police Feb. 4 after
officers said they witnessed him distracting and pick-pocketing 67-year-old
Timo Virkkala on Walking Street around 5 a.m. Officers also apprehended
Manthana Bunoheng, 24, and two children, who police alleged were accomplices
in Chang’s pick-pocketing exploits.
Chang was jailed in 2011 on similar charges and was recently released from
prison. Police said he confessed to stealing the Finnish man’s cash, saying
after he was released he could not find a job. He then took his wife’s
advice and began selling flowers. Supplementing his income via crime was his
idea.
In addition to the cash, police also recovered nine mobile phones taken in
earlier crimes.