Chaos erupted as Chiang Mai City Police searched for a suspect accused of robbing a Chinese tourist. It was ultimately revealed the report was false, filed with the intent to claim insurance money before fleeing abroad. Authorities are urgently coordinating with the Chinese consulate and immigration to blacklist the individual.
On 18 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a report stated that on 17 Mar 2026 at approximately 23:40, police received a radio call about a robbery on Kamphaeng Din Road, entering from Saeng Tawan intersection, Hai Ya subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province. The complainant, Mr. Xiao, 33, Chinese national, was walking from the Night Bazaar market with a brown shoulder bag toward the Kad Kom area along Kamphaeng Din Road. Two unidentified men on a motorcycle without license plates approached from behind and snatched his bag. Mr. Xiao chased but could not catch them.
The suspects fled on the motorcycle. One wore a helmet; the other did not and wore a black shirt. They took a brown shoulder bag containing a Sony A7M4 camera with Sony G Master II 24-70 lens, iPad Pro 2024, Ralph Lauren shirt, Ermenegildo Zegna cotton shorts, DJI wireless microphone, Chinese passport and ID card, as well as approximately 5,000 Thai baht and 3,500 Chinese yuan in cash.
After the report, the Chiang Mai City Police investigation team inspected the crime scene and reviewed CCTV footage along the alleged escape route. Mr. Xiao was brought to point out the robbery site and claimed path. However, CCTV footage along the route and entrances and exits of the mentioned alley showed no suspicious persons or any indication of a robbery event as claimed by the complainant.
The investigation team tried contacting the phone number provided to the police but received no answer. They coordinated with Chiang Mai Tourist Police to reach Mr. Xiao for further case details but were unable to contact him.
Later, around 14:00, investigators went to the hotel where Mr. Xiao registered with immigration. Hotel staff reported he had ordered a car via an app with a Bangkok license plate to leave the hotel but had not checked out and his destination was unknown. Investigators contacted the driver, who said he dropped Mr. Xiao off near Tha Phae Gate and did not know where he went next. Attempts to contact Mr. Xiao continued but failed.
At about 18:30, investigators requested Chiang Mai Immigration to check Mr. Xiao's travel records. They were informed that the Chinese national had left Thailand via Chiang Mai Airport to Hong Kong, using the Chinese passport which he claimed was stolen during the alleged robbery, presented to airline staff to board the flight.
It is believed that Mr. Xiao's claim of being robbed of his backpack and other belongings is unfounded, with no evidence or actual incident. He intended to file a false report to obtain official police documents to support an insurance claim for lost items during travel abroad or for other personal benefits.
Recently, Chiang Mai City Police coordinated with the Chinese consulate and immigration authorities to blacklist this Chinese tourist to prevent him from committing similar offenses elsewhere.