PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya police have released CCTV images of a suspect as investigators intensify their search for the person believed to have stolen more than 70,000 baht from a Turkish tourist inside a shopping mall in South Pattaya. The case stems from a complaint filed by 31-year-old Turkish tourist Hanife Hilal Gok, who reported that an unknown man approached her inside the mall on the night of July 10. According to police, the suspect allegedly asked to see her cash before distracting her and disappearing with €1,000 and US$900, worth more than 70,000 baht.
Investigators from Pattaya Police Station have since reviewed surveillance footage from inside and around the shopping center. CCTV captured a man matching the suspect’s description—tall, fair-skinned, with a beard, wearing a black-and-white patterned cap, black T-shirt, black shorts, a black cross-body bag and black trainers—walking through the mall around the time of the incident.
Police are now tracing the suspect’s movements and examining whether others may have been involved. Detectives are also comparing the case with similar incidents to determine whether the theft was carried out by an organized group targeting tourists.
Investigators have coordinated with Immigration Bureau officials to review travel records and are checking nearby hotels and accommodation in an effort to identify and locate the suspect. Police are asking members of the public and business operators who may recognize the individual or have information related to the case to contact Pattaya Police Station immediately. Officers warned that this type of theft typically relies on gaining a victim’s trust and creating a distraction in busy public places. Tourists are advised to avoid displaying large amounts of cash or allowing strangers to handle or inspect their money.
