Phuket airport worker arrested for theft of passenger’s phone
A worker carrying luggage at Phuket International Airport has been arrested for allegedly stealing a smartphone belonging to an Indian passenger after the stolen phone mailed photos to the owner.
Officials from Phuket airport led tourist police and officers from Sakhu Police Station to arrest Attahachai Kaewduang, 25, at the airport on Friday.
He was charged with stealing a gold Samsung Galaxy Note 5 from Malvika Mukherjee on April 24.
The Indian tourist visited the island-province and left for United Arab Emirates on Etihad Airways Flight EY305 on April 24 from Phuket airport. When she reached the destination, she found her smartphone missing.
Later the smartphone mailed her photos of a man so she filed a complaint on the Facebook fan page of Airports of Thailand, which coordinated with Phuket tourist police and Sakhu Police Station to investigate. They checked out the photos and arrested Attahcahai.
Police said the worker had stolen from several other passengers. Several other stolen items were allegedly found in his house.
Phuket airport director Phet Chuncharoen said the airport would step up security at plane hangars and runways as well as check workers exiting the airport to prevent theft in the future.
He will also set up a committee to study how to prevent theft from passengers’ luggage in the future.