PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 47-year-old Russian tourist reported that his motorbike and smartphone were stolen after a drinking session outside a convenience store, with two Thai transgender women suspected in the case.
Police report and missing items
The tourist, identified as Ivan Teplov (47), filed a complaint at the Mueang Pattaya Police Station. He told officers that his DPX Drone motorbike with the license plate 4 กฮ 8487 (Chon Buri) had been stolen.
Teplov also reported the loss of a dark blue iPhone 11, which he said had been stored in the motorbike’s compartment. Both the vehicle and the phone were listed as missing in the police report.
How the situation escalated outside the minimart
According to Teplov, the incident took place on 8 March in front of a convenience store in Soi Phra Tamnak 5. He stated that he had been drinking alcohol there with a group of Thai transgender women until he became drunk.
He described the gathering as a casual drinking session that later turned into a police matter once he realised his motorbike and phone were gone. The area is a known nightlife spot in Pattaya, frequented by tourists and locals.
The key-on-a-necklace trick
In his statement, Teplov said the suspects took the motorbike key, which he had been wearing around his neck. He alleged that they removed the key while he was intoxicated and less aware of his surroundings.
The suspects then allegedly rode away on the motorbike, while the iPhone remained in the storage compartment of the vehicle. Teplov told police that he only discovered the theft after the group had disappeared.
CCTV footage points to two suspects
Police reviewed CCTV footage from the surrounding area and said they saw two transgender suspects riding together on the stolen motorbike. Investigators reported that the faces in the recordings were clearly visible.
Despite these images, authorities had not announced any arrests at the time of the report. Officers said they were continuing to work with the video material to identify and locate the alleged perpetrators.
Clothing description and scene outside the store
According to the video, one suspect wore a black T-shirt, black shorts and white flip-flops, and had black hair. The second person wore a black mini dress and had long blonde hair.
Footage from in front of the store also appeared to show one of the suspects patting the man down for valuables after he was drunk. The clip suggested that the victim’s condition made him vulnerable to theft in the busy nightlife area.
Pattaya struggles with similar offences
In a similar case the previous week, four Thai nationals were arrested after allegedly attempting to steal a gold necklace from an Indian man in Pattaya. Among the suspects were two women, one transgender woman and a male delivery driver.
Witnesses and a hotel security guard reportedly intervened during that incident, but the detained group denied the accusations. The case underlined ongoing concerns about opportunistic crimes targeting foreign tourists.
Arrest after hotel robbery involving Japanese tourist
On 15 March, a transgender woman was arrested in Pattaya for allegedly robbing a Japanese man in a hotel. Police said the suspect returned 9,000 baht to the man after her arrest.
However, officers stressed that this repayment did not alter the legal process.
“If alcohol, a holiday mood and quick acquaintances come together, a harmless evening in Pattaya can turn into a police case for some within minutes.”
said source article commentary.
“Should hotels, bars and minimarts in the hotspots respond with more cameras, security and prevention, or is consistent law enforcement by the police enough?”
said source article commentary.