Police are hunting a “dark-skinned foreign man” alleged to have sexually molested one woman and kissed another at a cannabis shop in Bang Lamung district in the early hours of Sunday.
The incident occurred at a cannabis shop on Soi 15 off Walking Street in South Pattaya about 5.50am, Pol Capt Suphakit Kontee, deputy investigation inspector at Muang Pattaya police station, said.
A 34-year-old employee filed a complaint accusing a “dark-skinned foreign man” of groping her and exposing himself. Parts of the incident were recorded by CCTV and by local residents.
The employee told police that the man came up to the shop’s glass side door and pressed himself against it while she was checking stock behind the cashier counter.
He allegedly made lewd gestures, including repeatedly flicking his tongue in and out, before attempting to enter. After initially failing to open the door, he became agitated and banged on it before forcing his way inside.
She said the man repeatedly approached her despite her attempts to keep her distance and to ask what he wanted. She eventually lured the interloper outside, then rushed back to the shop and locked the door.
A 64-year-old woman who works at a nearby apartment building then stepped in to help, along with a few local residents. Instead of acting chastised, the foreigner reportedly turned his attention to her and kissed her on the cheek.
As the shop employee attempted to record the incident on her phone, the man approached her again and groped her. Residents armed with a stick warned him off and he fled the scene.
The employee said she had reported the incident because she feared the suspect could target other people if not arrested.
Police were reviewing security camera footage and witness accounts, hoping to track down and identify the offender.