CityNews – On January 2, Chiang Mai police arrested five Vietnamese suspects in suspicion of theft around the Night Bazaar area.

Four Vietnamese men aged 18, 25, 26 and 44, along with one woman aged 23 were arrested by police after man reports of pickpocketing and bag snatching in the tourist areas of the city.

Police seized a large amount of money, mobile phones and wallets belonging to other people.

According to reported thefts, police identified the gang to have been involved in at least two pickpocket crimes, stealing 2000 baht from a person’s bag in both the Night Bazaar and in the Tha Phae Gate area.

Police arrested one suspect who was riding a songtaew in the area before being lead to the rest of the gang.

The suspects admitted to their crimes, telling police that one of them who could speak Thai would distract store owners or tourists before the others would take wallets, phones or items of value from their victims.

The investigations are ongoing.