Thief Steals Speedboat, Abandons It off Phuket
Police in Phuket are searching for a suspect who stole a speedboat from a travel agency and later abandoned it at sea near Nai Yang Beach. The vessel, named Kantee, was found floating offshore a day after it was stolen.
The theft occurred late at night on Tuesday, October 7, around 11:40 p.m., while the boat was moored at Asia Marina Pier on Sire Island. According to the company, a staff member arrived at the pier the next day to refuel the boat but discovered it was missing.
Upon reviewing security camera footage, the employee saw an unidentified man boarding the vessel under the cover of darkness. The thief released the anchor and navigated the boat away without drawing attention.
The company quickly asked the local news page Phuket Times to share details of the theft on October 8 in hopes of gathering tips from the public. The post drew widespread attention online, with many netizens questioning why no staff were on duty near the pier and how the thief gained access to the boat so easily.
Shortly after the news spread, several people reported spotting the stolen boat drifting in the sea off Nai Yang Beach. These sightings were later confirmed by Phuket Times, which stated that the boat had been abandoned in the area.
The travel agency retrieved the vessel and filed a police complaint. Authorities are now working to track down the suspect, though no clear leads have been identified so far.
The company has urged anyone with information about the incident to contact local police or the agency directly at 092-249-1215. The case has raised concerns about security measures at marinas across Phuket, a region where the tourism industry heavily depends on water transport and recreational boating.
Police continue to investigate and are reviewing surveillance footage to identify the man seen boarding the boat.
