UPDATE: Chalong Police later managed to track down the man, identified only as ’Mr Dee’ (real name withheld by police), who admitted to slashing the tyre, but said he mistook Ms Chalita’s car for that of another person. Dee agreed to pay B4,000 for the damage to the tyre, and Ms Chalita agreed to withdraw the complaint, Chalong Police reported.
The case gained widespread attention after the Facebook page *Hod Jang, Phuket Province* shared a 49-second video clip of the woman recounting her ordeal. In the video, the woman explained that she had parked her car at a public parking area near the pier, only to find her tyre punctured. The page captioned the video: “Locals complain about #RawaiBridge ‒ brutal incidents like tyre punctures happen, and police action is lacking. Be cautious when visiting this area!”
The post quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate online. While some users sympathized with the victim, others criticized her, claiming that safety concerns in the area are common knowledge. Comments ranged from calls for better law enforcement to accusations of negligence and frustrations over recurring criminal behavior in the area.
One commenter wrote: *“This area should be declared a red zone ‒ it’s unsafe with rampant drug use and no law enforcement presence.”* Others pointed out the lack of operational CCTV cameras and urged authorities to address the ongoing issues at Rawai Pier.
Pol Capt Aat Phayam of the Chalong Police confirmed that CCTV footage from the pier captured a man in an orange shirt behaving suspiciously near the victim’s car. The footage shows the man crouching near the vehicle’s front tyre before quickly leaving the scene.
The victim, Chalita Rotphan, has since filed an official complaint, requesting the police to locate and prosecute the perpetrator, Pol Capt Aat confirmed.
Officers are analysing the CCTV footage to identify the suspect and have pledged to take action, he added.