Chalong police arrest suspect in 1.3 million baht theft from Russian home

Chalong police on May 7 arrested a suspect accused of stealing a safe holding more than 1.3 million baht from a Russian man’s home in Phuket, then returned more than 800,000 baht recovered in the case. Police said the suspect, identified by the alias “Santi,” was captured after an investigation linked him to burglaries in the Banyan Villa area of Chalong.

Investigation traced suspect through two April incidents

The case began on April 11, when a foreign homeowner in Banyan Villa reported an attempted burglary and confronted the intruder. Police said the victim remembered the man’s face.

A second burglary was reported in the same neighborhood on April 16, when the suspect allegedly used the Songkran holiday period to steal a safe filled with cash. Investigators led by Pol. Lt. Col. Chayakorn Tangsakul said the suspect had scouted the area by motorcycle while disguising himself with a Grab jacket and helmet.

Safe dumped in mine, cash found at suspect’s home

Police said the suspect smashed the stolen safe and dumped the remains in Chao Fah Mine in Wichit in an apparent effort to destroy evidence. Divers were later sent to recover the destroyed safe from the mine.

Searches at the suspect’s home found more than 800,000 baht in cash, police said. Investigators said he initially denied the accusation before confessing, and records showed prior theft cases while he was already out on bail with an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Police returned the recovered money to the Russian victim on May 7. The victim told officers the funds had been set aside for his grandchild’s school fees.

Source: https://thephuketexpress.com/2026/05/07/thief-arrested-for-stealing-1-3-million-baht-from-russian-in-chalong/