The victim, Irina Shustrova, reported on April 15 that two men on a motorbike had grabbed her bag at Kata Centre and ridden off.
Police examined security camera footage and were able to track the duo driving a Honda Scoopy-i from Patong, through Karon and then to Kata where they were seen grabbing Ms Shustrova’s bag and then escaping along the Kata-Saiyuan Rd.
They were able to identify one of the snatchers, Chusak Konklong, 31. On Saturday he was spotted waking along Petkrut Rd in Patong and was arrested.
He gave up the name of his partner in crime, Prasopporn Sombat, 29, who was also arrested. The two admitted this was not their first robbery – they confessed to six earlier robberies in Kathu and one in Chalong.
Police seized the Scoopy-i bike, a Sony camera, the men’s T-shirts and a helmet. They were charged with robbery at night using transport.
Ms Shustrova’s belongings could not be retrieved. The pair said they had already sold everything and split the money.