2 million baht in valuables stolen from secure apartment in Pattaya
A shocking burglary took place yesterday at an apartment in Pattaya, leaving a woman stunned as thieves managed to infiltrate her room and break into a safe hidden within a storage cabinet.
The thieves made off with nearly 2 million baht worth of valuables, including gold jewellery and cash. There were no signs of forced entry into the room, leading to confusion about how the burglars gained access.
Police Lieutenant Ittikorn Saikratok of Pattaya City Police Station in Chon Buri yesterday, December 18, received the report of the theft that occurred at a two-storey dormitory on Ko Phai Street in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.
Upon arrival, the police, accompanied by an investigative team, were met by 44 year old Sasikarn, a Chon Buri resident, who guided them to her second-floor apartment where the crime took place. The burglars had managed to pry open a safe inside a cabinet, stealing gold jewellery weighing a total of 32 baht, valued at approximately 1.4 million baht, along with an additional 300,000 baht in cash.
Despite the substantial loss, there were no visible signs of tampering on the door or the windows, which were securely fitted with iron bars. The only evidence of forced entry was on the safe, where the keyhole had been damaged.
Sasikarn explained that the room was rented for use during her foreign partner’s visits to Thailand. In their absence, the room was used to store valuables, as it was believed to be safe due to its secure fencing, barred windows, a safety vault, and complete CCTV coverage.
“Upon entering the room today, something felt off. I noticed that the hidden CCTV camera had disappeared, which made me suspicious. I immediately checked the cabinet and was shocked to find the safe had been tampered with and all the valuables were gone.
“There were no signs of forced entry and only the room owner and I have keys. However, when I asked to review the CCTV footage, I was told it was faulty, which added to my suspicion about how the thieves got in.”
Neighbours reported seeing a tall man smoking inside the room and did not pay much attention, assuming he was Sasikarn’s partner. They heard noises during the night and noticed water bottles and cigarette butts left in the otherwise unoccupied room.
This man had also previously followed a neighbour and attempted to turn their doorknob but, fortunately, the door was locked from the inside, reported KhaoSod.
The incident raises questions about the security measures in place and how the burglars managed to bypass them so easily. The absence of CCTV footage due to technical issues only adds to the mystery.
Police are continuing their investigation, looking into the possibility of an inside job or if the burglars had gained access through other means. The safe’s damage suggests a certain level of expertise was involved in the heist.
