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A Thai waitress is being praised for handing back a bag stuffed with £4,700, passports and bank cards to its owner.
Chomnad Singaod, 42, found a fanny pack early within the morning in front of the Queen Club bar in Pattaya after leaving her night shift.
The barmaid initially thought it belonged to a co-worker, but was stunned to see large stacks of foreign currency, bank cards, and a passport inside.
Despite the quantity being ten times her salary, the girl took the bag to the office, where she reviewed CCTV footage with colleagues on October 13.
Video showed how Australian tourist Shane Steven Mark Gabrielli, 48, had stopped for a rest on the way in which home from an evening out, before forgetting the pouch along with his holiday slush fund.
Chomnad said: ‘After I opened one other side of the bag, I discovered Australian currency, a passport and bank cards. I didn’t understand how much, however it was large stacks.
‘Quite lots, so I filmed a video as evidence to guard myself. I didn’t want anybody saying I had taken the cash.’
Chomnad said she never considered keeping the 9,700 AUD in money, adding: ‘The bag was left right in front of the shop. If it went missing, people would think I took it. That might not look good.
‘It was far more than I actually have ever had in my very own checking account. I could stop work for the remainder of the yr, but that will be the unsuitable thing to do. It will be bad karma.
‘I don’t need a reward or anything from the owner. He should buy me a beer, that shall be nice.’

Chomnad kept the bag protected, reviewed the shop’s CCTV footage to discover the owner, and handed it, together with the safety video, to the local police station.
Police watched the footage showing a foreign man, wearing a black jacket and shorts, sitting on the pavement outside the venue. He was carrying shoes in a single hand and a waist bag in the opposite.
Moments later, the person greeted a passerby, then stood up and walked away, leaving the private item behind.
Police Lieutenant Akkaraphong Sanputawong said the tourist had a tall, slender construct and a tattoo on his left leg.
Officers later checked the contents and located an Australian passport with Shane’s details together with the money.
Police are still trying to find the owner and have urged him or anyone with information to come back forward, or for Shane to contact them.
Pattaya has long held a fame as a magnet for foreign criminals, with several gang-related murders involving international figures through the years.
Town can be known for petty crime reminiscent of pickpocketing and scams, especially in tourist hotspots like Pattaya Beach, Jomtien, and on baht buses.
In recent times, officials have launched campaigns to rebrand Pattaya as a family-friendly destination.
Efforts include improved lighting, expanded CCTV coverage, and increased police patrols – though nightlife, alcohol, and sex tourism remain the town’s biggest draws.
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