A Chinese passenger was arrested for allegedly stealing a Rolex mid-air from an Indian man during a flight to Thailand.

Yi Xiangyang, 48, reportedly plucked a Rolex Sea-Dweller - worth around 20,000 USD - along with cash worth some 2,800 USD from a bag in the overhead storage compartment on Vistara flight UK123 from Mumbai to Bangkok on March 7.

Indian passenger Chavan Harshad Pandurang, who owns the valuables, filed a report with Suvarnabhumi International Airport police when he found the items missing from his bag when the Airbus A320 landed.

Officers identified the Chinese man as the prime suspect as flight crew allegedly saw him fiddling with Chavan's luggage during the flight.

They reviewed CCTV footage and found Yi rushing out of the airport with only carry-on luggage in tow before boarding a cab.

Police managed to track him and detain him at the Nice Ratchada Hotel along Ratchadaphisek Road five hours after the alleged theft.

Police Major Seksan Tiraruengrat of Tourist Police Division 1 said: 'Upon searching the suspect, we found the stolen Rolex Sea-Dweller watch and 2,800 US dollars in cash among his belongings. He will be charged with committing theft at an airport, while the seized items were returned to the Indian passenger.'

If found guilty, Yi may be imprisoned for up to seven years, and fined between up to 100,000 baht (2,800 USD).

A grateful Chavan thanked the police for their swift action in solving the case.

He said: 'I am thankful the police for what they have done. They've helped me, they've relieved me, because that was the most important possession in my life.

'I have a lot of respect for the tourist police in Bangkok. Thank you so much.'

Meanwhile, Kittipong Kittikachorn, director of the Suvarnabhumi Airport, assured the travellers of the airport's focus on security measures.

He said there were more than 8,000 security cameras throughout the airport that have been crucial in resolving numerous cases in the past.

He said: 'Those considering committing crimes at Suvarnabhumi Airport should be aware that it will not be as easy as they think. They will not escape arrest. Our cameras are watching every part of the airport.'