Hooded gang steals 2 million baht from home of UK chef

2026-02-27 - 05:33

Hooded gang steals 2 million baht from home of UK chef CHONBURI — 26 February 2026, A gang of three hooded robbers armed with knives stormed the home of a British chef in Chonburi late on Thursday, making off with a safe containing 2 million baht (£45,000) in cash, police said. Police were alerted to the robbery at 23:06 at a townhouse in Chokchai Village 9 housing estate in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. The victim, identified as 32-year-old British national Wesleigh Cyril Russell, a chef working overseas, told officers that he was at home with his Thai wife and a British friend when three men forced their way inside. The suspects, described as foreign men of solid build, were dressed in dark hooded tops and long trousers, with their faces concealed, revealing only their eyes. One of the assailants held a knife to Russell’s neck and demanded to know where cash was kept. The gang forced the three victims into the kitchen and snatched two mobile phones, an iPhone 16 and an iPhone 14, before going upstairs and carrying off a safe containing more than 2 million baht in cash. The money had reportedly been withdrawn to purchase a house. The robbers fled in a black pickup truck parked outside the property, crashing through the estate’s security barrier as they escaped. Security camera footage captured clear images of the suspects entering the house and later calmly walking back to the vehicle before driving away. Police launched a search but initially found no trace of the gang. At 01:36 on 27 February, officers from Nong Prue police station and Pattaya tourist police traced the suspects’ route and discovered the victims’ discarded mobile phones on a roadside near the railway track heading towards Sattahip. The devices had been thrown about 200 metres apart into roadside brush during the escape. The phones were collected as evidence and sent to forensic officers in Chonburi for fingerprint examination. Police said they are continuing to hunt for the suspects and urged anyone who sees suspicious vehicles or individuals matching the descriptions to contact Nong Prue police station immediately. Officers said they were confident arrests would be made soon.