Canadian tourist Shauna Gilfin, aged 23, left Phuket International Airport, bound for Don Muang Airport in Bangkok around 11am yesterday.
When she arrived in the capital, Ms Gilfin and her friends reported to police that two iPhone 5s and a Samsung mobile were missing from their check-in luggage. Police at Don Muang informed the Tourist Assistance Centre at Phuket Airport, who then informed local police who began their investigation.
Questioning led police to baggage handler Kitthisak Sanusan, 24, who admitted to police he stole one iPhone 5 while he was transferring luggage from the terminal to the plane. Police then found the phone in Kitthisak’s motorbike, and it was sent onwards to Ms Gilfin in Bangkok.
Police are still searching for the two other missing cellphones, and believe Kitthisak might be working as part of a gang. He was taken to the Thachatchai Police Station for further questioning.
Inspector Pol Lt Col Teerawat Liemsuwan, Chief of Police Crime Suppression at Thachatchai Police Station, told The Phuket News that this was a warning for people travelling to and from Phuket – don’t leave valuable possessions in your check-in luggage.