A tour bus driver has been arrested and charged with stealing money from five Chinese tourists who left their bags inside the vehicle at a car park in Bang Sua Thong, Samut Prakan while having a meal at a nearby restaurant.
Thanayot Buathong, 30, was allegedly caught red-handed looking through the passengers' bags.
The tourists had left them on the parked bus when they went to eat at a nearby restaurant on Soi Lat Krabang 45 in Bang Sao Thong on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
After finishing their meal, some passengers wanted to buy fruit to eat on the journey. They returned to the bus to get the money from from their bags, which were left on their seats.
Upon getting back on the bus they saw Mr Thanayot going through passengers' bags. They immediately alerted a tour guide and their compatriots.
Five Chinese men told the guide that money was missing from their bags, totalling 5,800 yuan in all (about 28,905 baht). The guide then called local police.
After police found the stolen money in the bus driver’s pocket, he was taken to tourist police sub-division 3 at nearby Suvarnabhumi airport for further interrogation.
According to police, Mr Thanayot admitted to taking the money, but claimed it was the first time. He said he was addicted to crystal methamphetamine.
Tourist police are pressing theft charges against the driver.
