Bystanders help nab suspected serial robbers in Bangkok as victim fights back

Police believe they are responsible for at least four robberies of foreigners in the capital
The duo were arrested after a Japanese tourist fought back as they as they attempted to rob him at the front of Soi Sukhumvit 51 in Bangkok’s Vadhana district at 1.45am on Monday.

The two suspects were identified as Pawin Thanyaroj, 20, and Suriya Phankham, 21.
The Thonglor police station was alerted of the robbery attempt and rushed to the scene, prompting Suriya to abort the robbery attempt and run to a waiting motorcycle driven by Pawin.
But bystanders, who had seen the attempt, grabbed hold of the motorcycle, causing it to fall down, and injuring the two suspects. Police arrested Pawin at the scene while Suriya fled on foot.
But police later learned that Suriya was receiving treatment for injuries caused by the motorcycle fall at Kluay Nam Thai Hospital rushed to arrest him there.
The two admitted committing four earlier robberies.
On August 24, the two allegedly robbed a western man on Soi Sukhumvit 16 by intimidating him with a toy gun, but the victim gave them an empty wallet.
Two nights later, they allegedly robbed a Japanese tourist, Masaki Koiso, 22, on a canal bank in Vadhana district and made off with two mobile phones, an iPad and 70,000 yen (Bt20,400) in cash.
On October 7, at 2am, they allegedly robbed a Japanese tourist in front of Soi Sukhumvit 36 by beating the victim with a pipe and punching him, before taking his wallet with Bt5,000 in cash and some ID and credit cards.
At 3.35am on October 11, they robbed a Japanese businessman in Vadhana district. They pulled his shoulder bag, causing him to fall down and made off with the bag containing Bt50,000.
Then on Sunday at 4am, they beat up a western man, trying to rob him. The victim fought back but was punched until he fell. The duo failed to get any valuable from him.
Police will check other unsolved robbery cases to discover if the duo were involved.