Credit card thieves in Patong

Police Are Trying To Track

down a foreign man and his accomplices for stealing tourists’ credit cards to buy valuable items including iPhones and gold jewellery.

Police have issued a photo of the man, with a description that he was of Asian appearance and usually wore a white cap and black sneakers, and carried a black shoulder bag.

The man had presented stolen credit cards to buy items, and usually presented a fake American passport as identification.

He had bought five iPhones and gold jewellery worth more than B120,000, police said.

Police believe the man is part of a gang working together.

The man would often arrive at a store just before it is about to close for the day in order to take advantage of staff wanting to rush so they could leave work.

He would present a fake passport with the name and surname corresponding to the stolen credit card, police said.

Police issued a warning for all store owners, and especially department stores, to beware the man entering their store.

The warning came in a notice marked as issued by Phuket Provincial Police on Jan 29, but so far has only been issued publicly by Patong Police, alluding to where the man and his accomplices have been operating.

Police urged store owners to have their staff check the signature on the back of any credit cards presented and to make sure the name in the passport and credit card