A vendor at the Downtown Fresh Market on Ranong Rd in Phuket Town, Mr Jatupol Kerdphol, 42, called 191 at 11:45pm to notify police that a tourist on motorbike had been robbed in front of the market.
Patrol Police arrived at the scene with Phuket City Police to find an Australian man and a Slovakian woman* standing on the pathway outside the market.
The woman, who was clearly upset, told police that while the two were riding their motorbike in front of the market two teenagers on a green motorbike drove next to them. The passenger then attempted to snatched her handbag. However, she resisted and kept old of her bag. The suspect then produced an axe with which he threatened them.
“I panicked and let go of my handbag. Among items inside the purse were B5,000, mobile phones and a driving licence,” she told police.
Lt Nucharee Longkaew from the Phuket City Police said, “The victim did not remember the make or model of the suspect’s motorbike, but she was able to give us a description of their clothing. She said the two teens were thin and tall and that the passenger wore a black T-shirt.
“We are checking CCTV footage to find the two teens and bring them in for questioning,” she said.
* Names of the victims removed at the request of both of the victims.