On May 17, police apprehended four foreign teenagers in Phuket after they were implicated in the theft and vandalism of a lamp shade from a local resident’s property.
The Phuket Times reported the incident, which was captured on CCTV footage, showing one of the teenagers removing the lamp shade that was hanging outside a home on Phang Nga Road in the Old Town area. In the video, the suspect, dressed in a black T-shirt, white shorts, and trainers, can be seen taking the lamp shade before departing with friends. The lamp shade was later discovered broken near the location.
Officers from the Mueang Phuket Police Station confirmed the arrests, stating that the teenagers were detained at their accommodation in the Thalang district before being brought to the police station for further questioning.
The group, consisting of four foreign nationals aged between 15 and 18, confessed to the act and described their behavior as reckless. However, police did not disclose any legal charges or penalties against them, which led to criticism from local residents who commented on the Phuket Times report.
Many Phuket locals called for stricter measures from law enforcement to deter criminal behavior among foreign visitors and to promote respect for local residents and public property.
One user on social media suggested that the offense might fall under Thailand’s Criminal Law related to night-time theft, potentially resulting in penalties ranging from one to five years in prison, fines between 20,000 to 100,000 baht, or both. Others speculated that the teenagers might only face minor fines before their release.
This incident is not isolated; a similar case occurred last year when a foreign man was recorded on CCTV stealing a Thai national flag from an office in Phuket. While the company involved sought legal action, no further public updates were provided on that case.
Additionally, a recent incident at Suvarnabhumi International Airport involved a Chinese man who damaged automated immigration gates. He was ordered to pay 450,000 baht in compensation and received a lifetime entry ban from Thailand.
Source: The Thaiger
