Transgender arrested for theft of gold necklace worth 300,000 baht

A 29 year old transgender woman made her escape via South Pattaya Road after snatching a 300,000 baht gold necklace from a Chinese tourist on Christmas Day last year.

Yu Chao, a 36 year old Chinese tourist, was left stunned. In the early hours of December 25, near Wat Chai, he encountered a transgender woman offering companionship. Little did he know, this encounter would cost him dearly.

Politely declining her offer, Chao claimed the suspect persisted, indulging in unwelcome physical contact. Shortly after parting ways, he discovered the loss of his prized gold necklace, a possession valued at a staggering 300,000 baht.

Determined to seek justice, Chao promptly reported the incident to the Chinese Embassy. With the aid of a translator, the case reached the desks of Pattaya police and the Tourist Police, initiating a thorough investigation led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyaphong Ensarn.

After a meticulous review of CCTV footage near the scene, the police successfully identified the perpetrator as Wichai Chueaphrasong, a 29 year old resident of Nong Hin District, Loei Province. A court warrant swiftly followed, leading to Wichai’s apprehension yesterday, January 5, reported Pattaya News.

In a surprising twist, Wichai admitted to the theft. Despite the necklace being pawned and sold, she agreed to reimburse Chao the full value. While Chao found solace in this unexpected settlement, the police clarified that Wichai would not escape legal consequences. She faces charges of burglary by night, along with various penalties linked to the theft.

In related news, a Thai man stole 88 gold necklaces from Yaowarat Krungthep Gold Shop in a Lotus’s supermarket in the Fang district in the northern province of Chiang Mai on November 28 last year. Each gold necklace was worth 200,000 to 500,000 baht causing losses of at least 17 million baht.

In other news, a lone masked robber wielding a gun swept away 23 gold necklaces from a renowned gold store inside a Lotus’s mall branch in Nong Chok, Bangkok on November 19. The aftermath saw the thief escaping in a parked orange taxi.