The victim, who gave his name only as Masco, told police he lived in Soi Namtor, Baan Naka.
“At 3 pm [on the beach] two men came up to me and engaged me in friendly conversation then suddenly snatched my bag.
“They drove away on a white motorbike in the direction of Patong. I immediately called the police.”
Police swiftly set up a roadblock, stopped the two men, and arrested them.
The two were named as Pornsak Saisamuk, 27, from Ranong, and Thawatchai Buaboon, 28, from Surat Thani. Police found stolen mobile phones and cash in their possession.
A Kamala police investigator said that both men had confessed to multiple robberies in the Kamala area.
He added, “They told us they thought the police would never catch them because, after each robbery, they would drive a short way away from the scene and then stop at a shop and have a beer as if nothing had happened.”
The two are now awaiting their day in court.