Police have caught an alleged thief who was stealing valuables from tourists at shopping malls and airports in Thailand.

Porntip Kantarak, 53, had reportedly stolen from a Chinese woman and a Filipino tourist before she was arrested in a burger restaurant in Bangkok on Tuesday evening.

The Chinese visitor reported to Don Mueang district police on April 9 that her luxury Yves Saint Laurent handbag had disappeared while she was shopping in a convenience store at the city's airport.

Inside the bag was 15,000 baht (439 USD) in cash, 16,000 Hong Kong dollars (2038 USD), and other items worth an estimated 100,000 baht (2929 USD).

Cops inspected the CCTV footage and were able to identify Porntip, who had already been arrested at least three times for similar offenses.

Before being caught, Porntip allegedly preyed on a Filipino tourist, who reported that her wallet had gone missing while shopping in the Siam Square area of Bangkok on April 25 evening. The wallet contained 23,000 Philippine pesos (414 USD).

Police also raided her room along Soi Pracharuamjai 62 and reportedly discovered 293 amphetamine pills and 1.26 grams of crystal meth.

Police Lieutenant General Sukhun Prommayon, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, said: 'According to her criminal record, Porntip has been arrested at least three times in the past for stealing from tourists at airports and malls. She was released in 2021, but went back to committing crimes.'

Porntip allegedly admitted to police that she was behind the thefts.

She said her husband was a drug dealer in Bangkok's Min Buri district, selling contraband to teenagers before being jailed on drug-related charges in March.

Alone and broke, she said she resorted to stealing from tourists to earn money.

The police further found that she had arrest warrants at the Pathumwan and Min Buri police stations for theft, possession of narcotics for sale, and drug use.

Porntip has been handed over to the Pathumwan police for legal action while authorities are contacting the Filipino tourist for interrogation.