A Myanmarese man was arrested in Pattaya on charges of attempting to steal a 50-year-old woman's purse and attempting to rape her, police said on Wednesday.
Pol Capt Wissanu Chaiyasuwan, deputy chief of Pattaya Police, said the suspect was named as Jamie (surname not given).
The victim, Sujittra Penthep, said the man was riding a bicycle towards her and snatched her purse in Chon Buri's Banglamung district.
Ms Sujittra said the suspected purse snatcher then dragged her to a forest nearby and used a knife to threaten her.
She said she pleaded for her life and continuously screamed until villagers heard her and rescued her on time.
Police said Jamie illegally entered Thailand and struggled to speak Thai.