At an unspecified time on Saturday (Jan 6), officers at Patong Police Station received a complaint from a Mongolian woman who reported her bag stolen while at Illuzion nightclub on Bangla Rd.
The whole area is currently under close attention as part of a pilot project allowing entertainment venues to remain open until 4am. Meanwhile, Illuzion has been the stage for various safety and security trainings and inspections showcasing Patong’s readiness to counter undesired situations.
The reported stolen items included a "purple iPhone," a hotel room key, and approximately B10,000 in cash – all kept inside the unattended bag left by the woman on a sofa.
After reviewing CCTV footage, Patong Police identified the suspect and apprehended him before 3am on Sunday (Jan 7) night. The arrest location was noted in the report as "in front of Bangla Police Box, Thaweewong Rd," situated directly across the road from the entrance to Bangla Rd and less than 300 meters away from Illuzion.
While making the arrest, officers seized an iPhone 14 Pro (described as purple) and eight other pieces of evidence. Notably, the nine “centerpieces of evidence” did not include the B10,000 in cash and the hotel key, as mentioned in the report.