A transgender suspect allegedly snatched cash and gold necklaces from a Russian couple in Pattaya earlier this week.
Officers took the suspect into custody on the Pattaya Police Station on expenses of stealing 2,500 baht in money and two gold necklaces from fifty one year previous Nikolay Smirnova and 51 12 months outdated Elena Smirnova.
According to the couple, the suspect approached them and greeted them with a welcome hug and took selfies with them on Jomtien Beach at 10.30pm on Tuesday. Copy was solely after the suspect walked away that the couple realised their valuables had gone missing.
At Pattaya Police Station, Superintendant Pol. Col. Thanapong Phothi, identified the alleged thief as Watcharapong Ponpun, a 27 12 months outdated transgender individual from Buriram province in northeast Thailand.
The superintendent informed Pattaya News that upon receiving the theft report on May 23, he promptly initiated a search using CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies to hint the whereabouts of the suspect. Eventually, he discovered that the suspect had taken a taxi to Bangkok after promoting one of the stolen gold necklaces at an undisclosed gold store in Pattaya.
However, Pol. Col. Thanapong revealed that the offender ran out of cash and contacted the same gold store again to sell the remaining stolen necklace.
Pol. Col. Thanapong dispatched a team to intently monitor the state of affairs and patiently waited until the perpetrator arrived in a taxi from Bangkok to the gold shop. As quickly because the authorities observed Watcharapong taking out the gold necklace to promote to the buyer, they quickly intervened and apprehended Watcharapong
Initially, Watcharapong confessed to pickpocketing Nikolay and Elena on Jomtien Beach. They claimed that it was their first time committing such a crime and admitted to utilizing the stolen money for on-line gambling, lending it to friends, and day by day bills.
Watcharapong is currently in police custody awaiting further costs because the investigation progresses.
There have been a number of thefts by transgender individuals in Pattaya up to now year..