Speed-dating swindle: Thai man loses pickup to woman after 2 weeks of dating

A Thai man lost an 800,000 baht pickup truck to a woman he met after only two weeks of dating. The woman is suspected of being a member of a car theft gang that stole vehicles in neighbouring countries.

The victim, a 47 year old man named Bancha, reported the theft to Mueang Chaiyaphum Police Station today, November 23. Bancha said his ex-girlfriend, 33 year old Pantiwa, stole his brand new car from a showroom in the Isaan province of Chaiyaphum after he paid a 100,000 baht deposit.

Bancha said he met Pantiwa two weeks before the incident through a dating application. Pantiwa told him that she wanted to marry him. She later met his mother at his home to discuss the wedding.

Pantiwa explained that she wanted to stay with Bancha and try living together before marriage. Pantiwa then convinced him to buy a new car and quit his job as a security guard to go into business with her. He agreed and they went to buy the pickup together.

Bancha said the car cost 800,000 baht, so he planned to pay it back in instalments and put down a 100,000 baht deposit. After paying, Pantiwa grabbed the car key from a showroom staff member and drove off, leaving Bancha shocked and confused.

Bancha jumped into his car and followed her but was unable to keep up. He returned to the showroom to track Pantiwa using the car’s GPS. The system indicated that Pantiwa was in the Baan Ped district of Khon Kaen province but she and the car were not there. She simply removed the GPS and left it there.

The car showroom security camera showed that the woman picked up a man from the front of the showroom before continuing her journey.

Police later discovered that Pantiwa lived in Ubon Ratchatani province, close to the border with Laos. Officers suspected Pantiwa was a member of a transient criminal gang that stole cars to sell in neighbouring countries.

Officers are now rushing to find Pantiwa and the car, as the operation would become difficult if the car is taken out of Thailand.

Bancha said he did not want to press charges against Pantiwa and did not want a relationship with her. He said he only wanted Pantiwa to return the car to him.