Quick-thinking vendor chases down alleged scooter thief in market

This is the dramatic moment a quick-thinking vendor chased down an alleged scooter thief in Thailand.

Weeraphat Singngan, 25, was delivering produce to a market stallholder in Pattaya when Thein Zaw Htet, 32, mounted his vehicle while the keys were still in the ignition.

Shocked Weeraphat shouted at the man, who then tried to speed away on the pink Yamaha Filano.

But the quick-thinking vendor foiled the alleged daylight theft by grabbing the man's cross-body bag, sending both him and the scooter crashing to the ground.

CCTV footage shows the scooter skidding across the street before nearby vendors rushed in to beat the alleged thief.

Officers arrived at the market at 1 pm local time, where vendors had already detained the suspect.

Police Lieutenant Phupha Hongyakul said Thein was later found to have entered Thailand illegally.

He added: ‘The suspect faces charges of theft and being a foreigner who entered the country illegally.

‘He was handed over to the inquiry officer for further legal proceedings.'

Weeraphat said he immediately ran after the suspect when he saw him trying to ride off with the scooter.

Recalling the incident, he said: 'I didn't think twice. I grabbed his cross-body bag and that caused him to fall off the scooter.

'My mother, girlfriend, and fruit vendors in the market then rushed in and mobbed him. They were furious at his blatant disrespect for the law.

'After that, I tried talking to him, but he only gave short replies and refused to answer.'