Pipatpong Boonhata, 38, from Udon Thani, was arrested at a security booth on Romklao Road in Tambon Kloong 3 Prawet in Lat Krabang in Bangkok on Friday night. The arrest was part of a 10-day police operation to crack down on criminals and fugitives this month.

Following interrogation, Pipatpong, whose appearance matched the wanted man’s description, confessed to police that he stole the passenger’s belonging at the airport in 2015. He was passed on to Suvarnabhumi Police Station later for prosecution.

Immigration Police commander Pol Maj General Chuchat Thareechat said police would check further if he had any accomplice in “this seemingly small crime that yields high impact on the country’s tourism”.

He urged people to help watch out for crimes against tourists or for foreign and Thai fugitives, and to report suspicious people via the Immigration Police hotline 1178.