Phuket Delivery Rider Accuses Hotel Staff of Eating Guest’s Food Order

A food delivery rider in Phuket has filed a police complaint, alleging that hotel staff took and ate an order of fried chicken intended for a foreign guest.

The rider, whose identity has not been disclosed, shared his account on October 7. The name of the hotel has also not been made public.

According to the rider, he accepted an order for fried chicken and left it at the hotel reception counter, following the usual procedure for deliveries to the property. He said riders were generally instructed to leave food at reception rather than deliver it directly to guests’ rooms.

After dropping off the order, the rider left to collect another delivery. He later received a complaint through the delivery application’s reporting system from the customer, who said the food had not arrived.

The rider claimed that the complaint affected his rating on the platform and resulted in the order being marked as missing. He later alleged that hotel reception staff had taken the food and eaten it.

He said he decided to report the incident to police because complaints can affect delivery workers’ records and their ability to receive future orders. Repeated complaints, he added, could reduce the amount of work available to riders.

The rider said he had worked in food delivery for several years and had never encountered a similar situation.

There has been no public update on the police complaint. The hotel has not issued a public statement or provided its account of the incident.

Other reported food theft cases in Thailand

The allegation follows several other reported food theft incidents in Thailand.

In November last year, a Thai teacher in Tak province was reportedly caught stealing food ingredients from a grocery shop. He had allegedly posted a video of himself cooking with the ingredients on social media while showcasing his cooking skills.

In February of the same year, a man in Udon Thani was arrested while attempting to steal roasted pork from a noodle shop.

In December 2024, another man was arrested after repeatedly stealing food from grocery shops in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, reportedly causing difficulties for local business operators.