Pattaya cafe owner detains suspected burglar by buying him beer

A 27-year-old coffee shop owner, Kanyanat Khanthahong, successfully facilitated the arrest of a suspected thief at a Jomtien Beach restaurant on October 18. While dining at Jee Beer Kon La Yam, Khanthahong recognized a man, identified as 42-year-old Patcharapol, whom she believed was responsible for a burglary at her CC Smile Coffee shop on Pattaya 3rd Road on August 1.

To prevent the suspect from fleeing, Khanthahong invited him to sit at her table and ordered him a beer while discreetly arranging for police assistance. Officers from the Pattaya City Police Station arrived at approximately 3:30 a.m. and took the man into custody with the help of bystanders.

The August burglary resulted in the loss of a mobile phone, a JBL speaker, a coffee grinder, a CCTV unit, a scale, and two portafilters, with total damages exceeding 40,000 baht. Khanthahong noted that the theft eventually forced the closure of her business. Police reported that the suspect has an outstanding theft warrant and is linked to several other recent burglaries in the Banglamung area.