PHUKET– Police have taken four British men into custody after a luxury watch, valued at 2.3 million baht, was stolen from an American tourist in Thalang. A dashcam from a nearby car recorded the theft as it happened. In the footage, two suspects on motorbikes are seen forcing the tourist off the road before robbing him at knifepoint on Thursday.
Officers from Choeng Thale worked with teams from Sakhu and Thalang to track down the getaway car, a Ford Everest with Bangkok plates. Police later found the rented car abandoned in a rubber plantation in Thepkrasattri. Forensics searched the vehicle for fingerprints and reviewed CCTV, which showed the robbers being picked up by a white car soon after.
The follow-up investigation led police to a luxury villa behind the Choeng Thale local government office on Thursday night. There, officers arrested four British men, aged 24 to 27. Police identified the suspects as Hussain, Mir, Yanne and Malique Kai. They seized three vehicles, two handguns, and the stolen Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch.
The robbery took place around 4.20 pm on Thursday. Two masked foreigners in a car chased a 40-year-old American who was riding a motorcycle home from Boat Avenue in Choeng Thale, Thalang.
The attackers forced him off his bike near Layan Soi 7, threatened him with a knife, grabbed his Audemars Piguet luxury Swiss watch , and fled. The victim works as a lawyer in Switzerland and told police he had been visiting Phuket for the past ten days.
He has three passports and has visited Thailand more than 50 times, saying this was the first time he had faced anything like this. The rare watch, made from rose gold, is valued at over 2.3 million baht.
He thanked the Phuket police for their quick and professional work. He added the incident has not shaken his trust in Thailand, calling it his second home and a place he still believes is safe.
In 2025, popular Thai destinations, including Phuket, have seen a sharp increase in crimes involving foreign nationals, which has put pressure on the country’s reputation as a safe spot for visitors.
Phuket immigration officials report a clear rise in problems. Last year, 194 foreign nationals had their visas revoked, and 998 were deported, mostly for drug offences and illegal work.
The situation has grown this year, with more drug cases and foreigners working without permits. Authorities have stepped up checks and now regularly work with foreign consulates.
Phuket is home to more than 32,000 expats and visitors, including large numbers from Russia, Britain, and Europe. The island has become a target for international gangs. In May, police cracked down on Chinese and Australian groups accused of running illegal luxury car businesses and using false company names to employ staff and launder money, hurting local workers.
These cases show that police are acting fast as more tourists arrive. Russians, Europeans and Americans have often been linked to crimes and face deportation or bans on re-entry. For ongoing news, keep an eye on local police reports.
