Belgian tourist arrested for string of hotel thefts in Thailand

A Belgian tourist was arrested over a series of thefts in hotels in Thailand.

Abdelali Chaddaui, 26, allegedly targetted guests in popular tourist hotspots like Krabi and Phuket provinces before he was arrested at a hotel in Songkhla province on August 1.

The suspect denied the charge, but officers found what they believed to be stolen property in his room.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Pongsiri Pitak of the Songkhla Immigration Bureau said: 'During the search, police found of 52,000 baht in cash, five mobile phones, credit cards, two Garmin watches, two Malaysian Bank cards, among other items. There were 39 objects confiscated, estimated to be worth 200,000 baht.'

Abdelali was taken to Khohong Police Station for interrogation.

The arrest came after a Malaysian tourist reported he was missing valuables at a hotel in Hat Yai in the south of the country.

Hotel staff told police that the suspect, who did not know him, checked out of the hotel in a hurry, claiming to have lost his passport.

Investigations found that Abdelali later checked into a different hotel in Songkhla.

Police said he had committed thefts in numerous other areas, including Koh Lanta island in Krabi province, and tropical holiday island Phuket.

He was also found to have overstayed his visa.

Officers Abdelali would be charged under the Immigration Act for overstaying, while his theft charges were investigated further.