Pattaya authorities have welcomed the arrest of a man in connection with the murder of two Russian tourists last weekend. The quick arrest was partially due to the recent efforts of local businesses, local authorities and police to step up security in the area including the installation of close-circuit television cameras.

Anuchit Lamlert, 24 and a native of Chon Buri Province, was arrested on March 1 and allegedly confessed to the crime, which appears to have been a botched robbery attempt. He also allegedly admitted that he tried to rob a bag belonging to the victims but shot the tourists when they woke up and saw him.

The arrest was the result of an intensive 6-day investigation by Thai police after the two Russian women were found dead in their deckchairs on Jomtien Beach. It was late at night and they had been relaxing on the beach after visiting local night clubs.

Images of the suspect and his escape by motorcycle were caught by close-circuit television installed by Pattaya City near the scene of the crime. The police used the image, together with an eyewitness account, to produce a sketch of the suspect, which was released along with identification of the motorcycle.

Mr. Pracha Terat, Governor of Chon Buri Province, on March 1 gave 100,000 baht to the families of each of the Russian victims, presenting the money given by Pattaya’s proprietors to Mr. Vladimir Pronin, Consul-General of the Russian Embassy in Bangkok. The money is part of a 1,300,000 baht fund set up by the province to help foreign tourists in need. The fund consists of voluntary donations by tourist businesses in Chon Buri and is the first such fund established in the province. The Governor also asked for cooperation from tourist businesses to install close-circuit televisions on their premises to prevent crime and this request was well received by the private sector.

Pattaya is traditionally one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations, welcoming nearly 6 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2006. In order to increase safety to tourists in the area, Pattaya City has installed many security cameras around several key points in the city and has also arranged for more frequent security patrols, with police assisted by military personnel assigned from bases in the vicinity. In addition, there has been a widespread crackdown on narcotics, unauthorized weapons, inappropriate shows, and underage patrons.