A German tourist was arrested for allegedly stealing a motorbike and attacking locals in Thailand.

The suspect was said to have assaulted a Thai driver to steal his motorcycle at a 7-Eleven store on Phuket island, on April 4.

Footage shows him wresting the still-running vehicle from a shocked Thai man whom he yanked allegedly yanked off his seat.

He then rode the two-wheeler to a mall, where he reportedly stole an iPhone 16 Pro Max from a gadget shop.

Police launched an investigation and arrested the German at a black market area known for trading stolen goods in the Chalong District. They recovered the stolen phone and vehicle from him.

Police Colonel Ekkarat Plaiduang, superintendent of the Chalong Police Station, said: ‘We charged the German tourist for snatching and theft by violence. The suspect and seized items were handed over to the inquiry officer for further legal action.'

Authorities believe the tourist was driven to crime out of financial desperation.

The once-pristine island of Phuket has been marred by over-tourism as the Thai government implements a visa-free scheme to boost revenue following the barren pandemic years.

The island saw 800,000 foreign visitors last year alone.

However, angry locals claim the push for tourist dollars has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors from Russia, India and Australia. There are also fears that the island has become an enclave of criminal activity, with police unable to control street fights and more organised ruffians setting up rackets among local businesses.

Phuket officials said they are implementing tighter immigration controls and screening processes amid a wave of drug-related crimes and illegal activities on the island.