PATTAYA — A suspected motorcycle thief was apprehended by local residents in a Pattaya alley after trying to dodge arrest by pretending to be drunk.
The incident unfolded at the intersection of Soi Bongkot and Soi Arunothai, where Pattaya City Police officers arrived to find a crowd surrounding a man acting erratically, slurring his speech and feigning intoxication in an attempt to deceive both residents and authorities.
Police identified the stolen vehicle as a black Honda PCX motorcycle bearing license plate 4 กช 8788 Chonburi. Its owner, 33-year-old Sathaporn Nonthuean, told reporters that his motorcycle disappeared around 3:00 AM from an apartment complex in Soi Bongkot.
While on his way to the hospital with his grandmother, Sathaporn spotted his motorcycle parked in an alley. He then saw the suspect approaching it and shouted for help, prompting nearby residents to intervene and detain the man on the spot.
CCTV footage confirmed the suspect was seen wheeling the motorcycle away from the apartment complex before riding it through nearby alleys.
The suspect remains in custody at Pattaya City Police Station for further questioning. Despite his incoherent statements, police say legal action is moving forward, and the investigation is ongoing.
