Vietnamese Woman Arrested for Stealing from Tourists During Songkran Festival

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

A 42-year-old Vietnamese woman has been arrested after sneaking into Thailand through an illegal border crossing and stealing from tourists during the busy Songkran holiday.

The suspect, identified as Ms Nguyen, was apprehended by officers from Phra Ratchawang Police Station at a hotel in Bangkok following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Criminal Court on 12 April 2025 (Warrant No. 2358/2568).

The arrest comes after a female tourist filed a complaint at Phra Ratchawang Police Station at around 11:25 on 12 April. She reported that while visiting Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm) at around 9:30, she discovered her white shoulder bag had been slashed. Inside was a wallet containing 3,000 baht in cash, a national ID card, and several credit cards.

CCTV footage captured two suspects working together in the act, one distracting while the other committed the theft. Police quickly launched an investigation and obtained court warrants for both individuals based on surveillance footage and other evidence.

Police say Ms Nguyen had previously been deported in an unrelated case but illegally re-entered Thailand via a natural border crossing in Ban Laem, Chanthaburi province, to commit the alleged theft during the Songkran celebrations.

At approximately 17:30 on 12 April, officers raided the hotel where Ms Nguyen was staying and found her matching the description from CCTV footage. Upon questioning, she admitted her identity and confirmed she could understand and could speak Thai.

During the arrest, police seized several items believed to be linked to the crime, including a blue dress, a blue shawl, black shoes, a brown Louis Vuitton-style handbag, a black Samsung Galaxy A9 phone and various foreign currencies (including U.S. dollars, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, and Vietnamese dong). Also found were three wallets, two box cutters, one cutter blade, shoulder wraps, foil rolls, and a copy of her passport.

Ms Nguyen faces charges of theft. Authorities are currently pursuing the second suspect, who remains at large.

Police have urged tourists to remain vigilant and safeguard their belongings while visiting crowded areas, especially during festivals. Law enforcement agencies have increased patrols and security as part of efforts to protect visitors throughout the Songkran period.

-- 2025-04-14