SINGAPORE - Within hours of allegedly robbing a bank at Holland Village last Thursday (July 7), Canadian David James Roach calmly checked into a $16-a-night hostel in Bangkok, where he had fled to.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the 26-year-old suspect carried just a haversack and is believed to have arrived at the hostel without a room reservation. He appeared calm and collected, said a source, and even deliberated whether to include the breakfast option for his stay, which was originally planned for two days.

But he inexplicably extended his stay at the Boxpackers Hostel in the Ratchathewi district of central Bangkok.

On Sunday, he was nabbed by the Royal Thai Police, who had zeroed in on Roach using CCTV cameras in the area, the Chinese evening daily reported.

A day earlier, three Thai police officers were spotted speaking to hostel staff, who did not recognise a picture of Roach but confirmed his presence on the guest register.

Roach changed his room each night, starting with a four-bedder with breakfast before switching to a six-bedder. He was believed to have been arrested in the 10-bed room.

Most of the $30,000 cash he allegedly robbed from a Standard Chartered Bank have been recovered by Thai police, the report said.

According to documents seen by Shin Min, Roach was born in Sydney in 1989 but now holds Canadian citizenship. He was described as 1.8m tall with curly hair.

Canadians are allowed visa-free entry into Thailand for up to 30 days. Tourists bringing in more than US$20,000 (S$26,985) cash must make a declaration to Thai customs.

It is unclear how Roach bypassed the customs check.