PATTAYA, Thailand – A 27-year-old woman in Pattaya used quick thinking to help police apprehend a 42-year-old man she suspected of stealing more than 40,000 baht worth of equipment from her coffee shop. The incident unfolded on October 18 at Jae Beer Khon La Yum restaurant near Jomtien Beach, where Kanyanat Khantahong spotted the man she believed was responsible for a burglary at CC Smile Coffee on Pattaya Third Road on August 1.
Rather than confront him directly, Kanyanat invited the man to sit at her table and ordered beer for him to avoid raising suspicion. While talking with him about compensation for the missing property, she secretly arranged for the restaurant to alert police.
Officers from Pattaya City Police Station arrived and took the suspect into custody, with help from good Samaritans who helped keep him at the scene. He was then taken to the station for further legal proceedings. Kanyanat said the theft had caused her considerable distress. CC Smile Coffee was a business she had invested in with a friend and cared deeply about, but the loss of equipment forced the shop to close.
The missing items reportedly included mobile phones, a JBL speaker, a coffee grinder, CCTV cameras, a coffee scale and two portafilters, with total losses estimated at more than 40,000 baht. Police checks found that the suspect, identified as Patcharaphon, had an outstanding arrest warrant for theft. Other alleged victims also came forward to report similar incidents.
Investigators are also examining information linking the man to a reported break-in at a mobile phone shop in the Banglamung Police Station area, where 33 mobile phones and 1,589 baht in cash were reportedly stolen. The shop owner had announced a 20,000-baht reward for information leading to an arrest. Police are continuing to verify the details of the separate cases and coordinate with the complainants to gather evidence for further legal action.
