Two foreign tourists are facing accusations of shoplifting from a convenience store in Patong, Phuket, after a Thai woman reported observing them concealing merchandise. The couple has also been linked through social media claims to a separate alleged theft at a clothing shop in Rawai, where trousers valued at 1,595 baht were reportedly stolen.
The initial allegations were shared on The Phuket Times Facebook page, detailing an account from a Thai woman who stated she witnessed suspicious behavior at a Patong convenience store. She reported seeing the tourists place several products into a bag while browsing and discreetly informed a store employee as they approached the checkout. The tourists reportedly denied taking any items when questioned by staff, but the woman claimed a subsequent search revealed unpaid merchandise hidden in their bag.
The Phuket Times later published a second allegation involving two tourists believed to be the same couple, this time at a clothing shop in Rawai. According to the post, the pair allegedly stole a pair of trousers worth 1,595 baht, with the woman reportedly acting as a lookout while the man took the item. The post also claimed the two celebrated with a high-five, though this detail remains unverified.
A report from the French-language outlet ZoneSamui on October 12 reiterated the accusations concerning both incidents, referencing social media footage and surveillance images. However, the report did not confirm that police had verified the alleged thefts. The nationalities of the tourists are currently unconfirmed, and the timing of the alleged incidents, as well as whether formal police complaints were filed by the shops, remains unclear.