TRANG, THAILAND – A municipal pawnshop employee in Trang was accused of systematically stealing customers’ gold, causing losses estimated at more than five million baht.
Over 200 gold items vanished from intact safe
The investigation began after staff discovered that more than 200 gold jewelry pieces had disappeared from a safe during a routine check on 6 January. There were no signs of a break-in, and the safe remained intact, with access limited to just two authorized employees with keys. The last inventory in December had shown no irregularities, indicating the theft must have occurred afterward.
Key holder confessed to systematic scheme
The inquiry quickly led to one of the key holders, Nitiphon Lensin, who admitted the theft during questioning. According to police, he removed gold items from the safe and pawned them at other pawnshops in the surrounding area. He deliberately selected jewelry whose owners were unlikely to redeem it quickly.
Stolen gold cycled back to cover tracks
Before the redemption period for the original owners expired, Nitiphon reportedly bought the stolen pieces back and returned them to the municipal pawnshop to erase traces. He then stole new items and repeated the process over time, which initially kept the scheme from being detected. In his confession, he spoke of only about 30 stolen pieces worth one million baht.
Police suspect higher losses and possible accomplices
Investigators remained highly skeptical of this account, as the number of missing items and the estimated total damage were far higher. Authorities put the loss at more than five million baht, and the pawnshop was temporarily closed.
“We are investigating whether there were additional accomplices and how large the theft really was.”
said a police spokesperson.
Customers worried as pawnshop stays closed
News of the theft caused significant anxiety among customers, many of whom feared for the safety of their pledged valuables. Management of the municipal pawnshop tried to reassure the public and promised a thorough clarification, keeping the facility closed until at least 12 January.
“Citizens should not worry. We are conducting a precise investigation and will determine the full extent.”
said an official source.
Breach of trust exposes security failures
The case highlighted a major security failure, as an employee had used his internal knowledge and authorized access for criminal purposes. It amounted to a clear breach of trust toward the municipality and especially toward customers who had entrusted their property in times of need. Police were now reviewing security measures and control mechanisms at the pawnshop to prevent similar incidents in the future.