AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND – A transgender woman was caught on CCTV climbing onto a parked SUV in the early hours and removing a sleeping, intoxicated man’s phone, cash and watch, police and family members said.
Incident captured on surveillance
According to footage obtained by the victim’s family, the theft occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on 13 September in the parking lot of an entertainment venue in Uthai district. The victim, reportedly intoxicated, had fallen asleep inside his white SUV. The suspect, dressed in black, is seen positioning a chair beside the vehicle, climbing up and lowering the driver’s window before reaching inside and taking the valuables.
Family reports and police response
The victim’s brother, Sitti Wechadet, filed a complaint and provided the CCTV clips to officers. Local police located and arrested the suspect at her residence in a nearby dormitory. She denied the charges, though authorities say she has a prior theft conviction from three years ago.
Suspect’s alleged patterns and comparable incidents
Neighbours and social media posts, the family says, had previously warned of the woman’s alleged targeting of intoxicated drivers. Media reports also note similar incidents elsewhere: recent cases in Pattaya accused two other transgender women of attacking and robbing foreign victims. Investigators say the CCTV evidence in the Ayutthaya case appears clear and may link the suspect to additional reports.
Alleged tactics used by the suspect
Interviewed victims described recurring methods: approaching visibly drunk drivers, using distraction or false familiarity to defuse confrontation, and in some cases offering inappropriate favours when directly challenged. Authorities are reviewing multiple reports to determine whether these accounts point to a wider modus operandi.
Legal implications
Under Section 335(1) of the Thai Penal Code, theft committed at night can carry one to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2,000–10,000 baht. Prosecutors will decide whether to press charges based on the available evidence and any links to other cases.
Advice for drivers and visitors
Police and local safety guides recommend that drivers avoid sleeping in vehicles in public lots after drinking, secure valuables out of sight, and park in well-lit, monitored areas where possible. Tourists are urged to stay with companions or seek supervised accommodation rather than remain in parked cars overnight.
How do you protect your valuables if you fall asleep in your car after a night out — and what more could authorities do to prevent similar crimes?