Good Samaritans stop Pattaya transwoman stealing from German

Two Thai Good Samaritans helped a German man catch a transwoman who attempted to steal the foreigner‘s wallet near Soi 10 in Pattaya this morning.

A 33 year old motorcycle taxi rider, Prathin, today, October 31, called officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station to arrest the transgender suspect, 38 year old Thawatchai, along Pattaya Sai Song Road near Soi Pattaya 10.

Prathin informed police that he was riding his motorcycle past the scene when the transwoman hugged the German man, later identified as 36 year old Philipp, and placed her hand into his trouser pocket.

Fortunately, Philipp realised the trick and managed to retrieve his wallet from the suspect. The transgender suspect attempted to flee but Prathin and a local journalist managed to stop her.

The suspect insisted that she did not attempt to pickpocket Philipp. On the contrary, the German man maintained that she tried to steal his wallet, leading her to confess to the crime.

Thawatchai claimed this was her first time committing theft, explaining that she lacked the money to pay for her rented room.

Philipp checked his wallet and found that his 4,000 baht in cash was intact. Consequently, he decided not to pursue legal action against Thawatchai. Police recorded Thawatchai’s criminal act but no legal charges or penalties were imposed.

Prathin and the journalist told Channel 7 that they were perplexed by the actions of the police officers. They stated that, under Thai law, theft is a criminal case that cannot be compromised, expressing that the police should have arrested and prosecuted the transgender suspect.

As of now, Mueang Pattaya Police Station has not yet issued a statement to clarify the matter.

In a related report, a transgender thief was arrested in Phuket in September for stealing a motorcycle key from a woman while reportedly under the influence of drugs.

In August, another transgender thief stole from a businessman after they spent time together at a love hotel in Nonthaburi Province, near Bangkok. No update on her arrest has been reported.