The ‘ram and rob’ assault occurred on Soi Layan Soi 7, heading towards Ban Phru Somphan, at about 4:20pm
The entire incident was recorded on the dashcam of a vehicle following behind.
The victim, named by police as 36-year-old American national Ebrahim Vahid Amiri, was riding a red Honda motorbike when he was struck by the blue Ford Everest travelling behind him.
Mr Amiri was thrown onto the road, sustaining minor abrasions.
Two men dressed in black and appearing to be wearing balaclavas exited the car, assaulted Mr Amiri, robbed him of his watch, then returned to their vehicle and fled.
Cherng Talay Police, coordinating with Sakhu and Thalang Police Stations, confirmed the Ford Everest, with Bangkok licence plates, was a rental vehicle.
Officers contacted the owner and were able to track the vehicle’s GPS location to inside a rubber plantation, where it had been abandoned. Phuket Provincial Forensic Officers were called in to process any of the perpetrator’s fingerprints from the vehicle.
Police said they had identified the perpetrators as foreign men who had another white vehicle arrive to pick them up and flee the scene.
Cheng Talay Police Chief Col Ekkarat Plaiduang confirmed that officers are now working with Phuket Provincial Police forensic teams to collect DNA and fingerprint evidence from the abandoned vehicle.
Investigators are also checking the vehicle’s registration and rental records, as well as reviewing CCTV and dashcam footage along the route.
Mr Amiri has been referred for medical examination, police added.
Authorities are continuing to track down the suspects, Col Ekkarat said.