British tourist allegedly steals motorcycle left with key in Pattaya, too drunk to remember where he parked it

CHONBURI — 10 October 2026, A 38-year-old British tourist was detained after allegedly riding away on a motorcycle left with its key in the ignition outside an entertainment venue in Pattaya. The man reportedly admitted appearing in CCTV footage but said he could not remember where he had left the motorcycle because he was heavily intoxicated.

At 02:36 on 10 October, a 40-year-old man identified as Raksaphon filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police Station over the theft of his blue Yamaha Grand Filano motorcycle, registered in Chai Nat province. The incident occurred outside an entertainment venue in Soi Buakhao, South Pattaya, in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

Raksaphon told police that he had parked the motorcycle outside the venue and accidentally left the key in the ignition before going inside to see a younger acquaintance. When he returned, he noticed the motorcycle was missing and asked the person inside whether they had seen it.

After reviewing CCTV footage, he discovered that a foreign tourist had ridden away on the motorcycle. He then asked friends to help search for it and alerted police, providing the footage as evidence to help identify the suspect and recover the vehicle.

Shortly afterwards, a good Samaritan and police located a 38-year-old British tourist at accommodation along Pattaya Second Road. The man was identified as the person seen in the CCTV footage and reportedly acknowledged that he was the individual shown riding the motorcycle.

However, he said he could not remember where he had taken the vehicle. He was heavily intoxicated and struggled to communicate coherently, prompting officers to take him into custody to sober up before further questioning.

The motorcycle’s whereabouts were not specified in the initial report.

The complainant lodged the case with Pol. Lt. Bowonsak Boonman, a deputy investigation inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, and submitted the CCTV footage as evidence. Police said the case would proceed in accordance with the law.