PATTAYA — Police Major General Thawatchakiat Jindakhuansanong, Chief of Chonburi Provincial Police, has announced the arrest of a woman who stole an ATM card from a British expatriate and withdrew 40,000 baht ($1,188) while he was sleeping.
The incident occurred on February 2 when the victim, identified only as Mr. Pea, took a woman named Kham to a hotel in Soi 6, Pattaya Second Road. While Mr. Pea was sleeping, Kham allegedly left the room with his Kasikorn Bank ATM card. Upon waking, the victim discovered that 40,000 baht had been withdrawn from his account in four separate transactions of 10,000 baht each. His backpack containing a phone and other belongings was also missing.
After reading about a similar case involving a Turkish man, Mr. Pea, who was suffering from a foot infection that limited his mobility, contacted Khaosod English who brought the case to Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchkiat’s attention. He immediately ordered Pattaya police to investigate.
Following the police chief’s directive, the court approved an arrest warrant on February 19 for 54-year-old Kham, originally from Phetchabun province, on charges of theft and unauthorized use of another person’s electronic card. Police apprehended the suspect the following day at approximately 2:30 p.m. near a restaurant at the entrance of Soi Jomtien 4 in Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.
During questioning, Kham confessed to stealing the ATM card and withdrawing the money, which she claimed to have already spent. A background check revealed that she had four previous criminal cases in Pattaya, with three theft cases in 2019 and a gambling offense in 2022. She had previously served prison time for similar offenses but continued to engage in criminal activity after her release.
Under Thai law, those who commit theft face imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine not exceeding 6,000 baht.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiat emphasized that his department takes crimes against tourists seriously and will continue to work diligently to maintain safety in Pattaya’s tourist areas.
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