Phuket, Thailand – A date arranged through a dating app ended in violence when an Indian man attacked and robbed a Thai transgender woman in her rented room in Patong, police said.
Dating app meeting turned violent
The two had met on a dating app and arranged to meet on Bangla Road. The woman later invited the man to her rented room, where she provided services for 1,000 baht. According to her account to police, the situation escalated after the encounter when the man demanded a refund.
When she refused, the suspect searched her bag, found 10,000 baht in cash and took the money. The victim said she tried to retrieve the cash and was struck by the man. “I screamed for help, but no one intervened,” she told officers, describing how the attacker dragged her back into the room and continued the assault in the bathroom.
Despite her injuries she briefly pursued the fleeing man — wearing only her underwear — but stopped out of fear of further violence. From a window she said she saw him walking calmly along Bangla Road as he left the area.
Medical treatment and formal complaint
The woman went to a hospital for treatment and submitted medical documentation to Bangla police when filing her complaint. Authorities recorded the robbery of 10,000 baht and the violent assault in their report and said they were prioritising identification of the suspect.
Local media reported that the man may have targeted other women using dating apps, luring them into meetings and then robbing them. Police said they were examining whether the incident was part of a pattern.
Investigation under way
Officers at the Bangla police station said they were searching for the suspect and urged anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. They also said they would investigate leads from app-related contacts and any potential prior offences involving a similar modus operandi.
Police advised users of online dating platforms to exercise caution. “Meet in public places and do not give out your address,” officers told the public, emphasising the heightened risks in busy tourist areas such as Patong.
Community concern and safety warnings
The assault has alarmed Phuket’s transgender community, which said the attack underscored persistent safety concerns and a feeling of not always being taken seriously by authorities.
The suspect remained at large while police continued their enquiries and asked witnesses or anyone with information to contact the Bangla police station. The investigation is ongoing.