Suspect arrested, stolen 14k gold necklace returned to Russian tourist

Valentina Mzheenko said she was emotionally attached to the necklace and had been wearing it for more than 20 years before it was stolen.
She attended a press conference at the Pattaya police station on Saturday where the arrest of the alleged robber, Pittaya Tarin, 26, was announced.
Pittaya, an employee of a McDonald's fast food restaurant in Pattaya, was accused of snatching the 14k gold necklace from Mzheenko on January 30, in Soi Wat Boon Kanchanaram in Moo 10 village in Tambon Nong Plue of Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district.
Pittaya was arrested on Friday on Soi Nong Hin in South Pattaya and police later recovered the necklace from his house.
Pittaya told police he was riding his motorcycle home after work and he spotted the Russian woman walking and wearing what he thought to be a gold necklace. After he grabbed the jewelry he told police he buried it behind his house.
Mzheenko thanked Thai police for recovering her necklace.