Phuket –
Phuket police have arrested four British nationals in connection with a violent daylight robbery targeting a 40-year-old American tourist in Cherng Talay. The incident, which occurred on the afternoon of September 19 near Layan Soi 7 in Cherng Thalay, involved a high-speed vehicle chase and assault that left the victim shaken and stripped of a luxury wristwatch valued at approximately 2.3 million baht (USD 63,000).
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The Cherng Talay Police told the Phuket Express. The suspects used a sedan to pursue and ram the victim’s motorcycle as he was returning to his accommodation. Two large-built men then exited the vehicle and assaulted the tourist, striking his neck with the handle of a knife and threatening further violence unless he surrendered his watch. The attackers reportedly spoke in English during the confrontation.
The victim, a Swiss-based attorney holding three passports, complied and handed over the watch before the assailants fled the scene. A local resident came to his aid and alerted authorities. The man, who has visited Thailand over 60 times, expressed shock at the incident, stating he had never encountered such violence during his travels.
Police later discovered the getaway vehicle abandoned in a wooded area in Sakhu, also in Thalang district. Acting swiftly, investigators tracked the suspects to a luxury villa near the Choeng Thale municipal office, where all four were apprehended. Officers seized three vehicles and recovered the stolen watch.
Initial findings suggest the robbery may have been premeditated, with the attackers possibly operating as part of a coordinated group. Surveillance and witness accounts indicate the presence of multiple vehicles at the scene, raising concerns about organized criminal activity targeting high-value tourists.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full scope of the operation and whether additional suspects are involved.
