Phuket guesthouse owner reclaims heirlooms stolen by employee

The owner of a Phuket guesthouse breathed a sigh of relief after police tracked down and recovered nearly 1 million baht worth of stolen jewellery and luxury items, taken by none other than her restaurant manager, who had been drowning in online gambling debt.

The shocking betrayal left 33 year old Sophia Brussaard both heartbroken and relieved when justice finally prevailed.

Officers from Kamala Police Station in Phuket yesterday, November 14, announced the arrest of 38 year old Chanuphon who managed the restaurant at Daeng Guesthouse in Kathu. The investigation began after Brussaard reported the theft of several valuable items, including a Rolex watch and diamond rings, from her personal quarters on November 10.

Brussaard had kept her cherished items, some of which were heirlooms from her mother, in a distinctive red jewellery box in her guest room, last seen on October 12.

The list of stolen valuables was jaw-dropping, featuring a 2.64-carat diamond ring valued at 70,000 baht, a Cartier Panthere watch worth 159,000 baht, and Chanel earrings priced at 15,000 baht.

Initial suspicions led investigators to three staff members with spare key access, but Chanuphon’s gambling history made her the prime suspect. A close look at her phone search history revealed inquiries on the prices of luxury watches and diamond rings, suspiciously similar to the stolen items.

Confronted with the evidence, Chanuphon confessed to having sold a gold bracelet for 70,000 baht and sending the remaining items to her boyfriend in Nakhon Sawan on November 13. Police, led by Police Colonel Somsak Tongklieng, intercepted the package at the Phuket Post Office, retrieving the stolen valuables just in time.

Brussaard expressed deep gratitude to Kamala police for recovering her belongings, especially the sentimental heirlooms. Police charged Chanuphon with theft, and Brussaard, now relieved, can only hope for better luck with future employees, reported KhaoSod English.

In related news, a startling case of theft has emerged from a gold shop in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, where a housekeeper has been accused of stealing gold worth over 20 million baht since 2021.