PHUKET — 27 July 2026, police have obtained an arrest warrant for a 47-year-old Russian man accused of breaking into a currency exchange shop at a major shopping mall and stealing around 600,000 baht in cash.
The burglary took place on 19 July at a foreign currency exchange shop inside a major shopping mall in Wichit subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district.
The suspect allegedly broke into the shop’s office and opened a safe before taking approximately 600,000 baht in cash and fleeing the scene.
Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang, chief of Wichit Police Station, said investigators had gathered evidence identifying the suspect. The Phuket Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant on 27 July.
The suspect was identified as Vitalii Kobin, 47, a Russian national. He faces a charge of nighttime theft involving the use of a vehicle to facilitate the offence, transport the stolen property or evade arrest.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly planned the burglary carefully, including disguising himself to avoid detection and using a vehicle to flee after carrying out the theft.
Police also found that Kobin had overstayed his permitted stay in Thailand since 2025.
Investigators believe the suspect may still be hiding and moving around somewhere in Thailand. Police are searching for him and coordinating with relevant agencies to locate and arrest him and bring him to justice.