A foreign woman was caught on CCTV stealing a pair of Nike shoes left outside a home in the Kok Tanod area of Karon, Phuket, with the owner initially believing the footwear had been taken by a dog.

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The incident involved a pair of Nike shoes valued at 4,500 baht, which had been washed and left to dry outside the house. The owner said the shoes had only been worn a few times before they went missing, prompting initial confusion over their disappearance.

After later checking security camera footage, the homeowner discovered that a short-haired foreign woman had walked up to the property and taken the shoes without hesitation. The footage reportedly shows her approaching the area calmly and picking up the shoes before leaving.

The incident has raised concerns among local residents about opportunistic theft in residential areas, particularly involving items left outside homes. While petty theft is not uncommon, the apparent confidence of the suspect has drawn attention.

There has been no immediate information about whether the incident has been reported to police or if efforts are underway to identify the suspect. The presence of CCTV footage may assist authorities if a formal complaint is filed. Residents are being reminded to remain cautious and avoid leaving valuables unattended outside their homes, even in seemingly quiet neighbourhoods.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Phuket Times 27 Apr 2026

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Only wore a couple of times and she washed the shoes and left them outside?

3 hours ago, gargamon said:

Only wore a couple of times and she washed the shoes and left them outside?

Where people put their shoes, has no relevance. The relevance is that another foreign lowlife has been making an arse of themselves in Thailand again.

People leave their shoes outside before entering the home in Thailand. Also at temples. It is a pity that someone saw this as an opportunity to steal the shoes.

Also, why is CCTV such low quality?

Edited April 27Apr 27 by Purdey

A pretty brazen theft, she walks straight to the shoes and takes them without hesitation - Thais have every right to be suspicious of foreigners!

46 minutes ago, Jim Waldron said:

A pretty brazen theft, she walks straight to the shoes and takes them without hesitation - Thais have every right to be suspicious of foreigners!

As 96% of the prison population is Thai, they should probably equally fear thefts by Thais as well.

8 minutes ago, BexMan said:

As 96% of the prison population is Thai, they should probably equally fear thefts by Thais as well.

The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples. Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though.

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Where people put their shoes, has no relevance. The relevance is that another foreign lowlife has been making an arse of themselves in Thailand again.

Absolutely right- I hope she suffers as a result in some appropriate way - maybe she will get bunions and has no medical insurance

7 hours ago, gargamon said:

Only wore a couple of times and she washed the shoes and left them outside?

Yes, why not? Are you doubting the veracity of the claim that they were stolen even though it was shown on CCTV?

39 minutes ago, marin said:

The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples. Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though.

'The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples"

Nonsense, as a generality.

"Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though"

"Wrong pairs" are frequently taken by design also.

19 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

'The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples"

Nonsense, as a generality.

"Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though"

"Wrong pairs" are frequently taken by design also.

Canadian friend of mine had his Nikes taken from outside a temple!

He's a big guy and the shoes were like small canoes.

Certainly wouldn't fit the average Thai, but re-saleable i guess.

He took my Aussie advice after that and bought a pair of flip flops...BIG ones!

33 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

'The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples"

Nonsense, as a generality.

"Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though"

"Wrong pairs" are frequently taken by design also.

I had a pair of flip flops taken from the steps going down to Nai Harn beach once. Not sure if foreigner or Thai did it. But back then social media wasn’t such a thing, so I couldn’t get any publicity.

Fooled her...

As if there are any real Nike shoes in all of Thailand. Well, maybe a small percentage, but if I were a betting man...

Edited April 27Apr 27 by impulse

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

foreign woman was caught on CCTV stealing a pair of Nike shoes left outside a home

This is hilarious, what sort of LOWLIFE foreigners are coming to Thailand.

Stealing a used pair of shoes.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by SAFETY FIRST

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the owner initially believing the footwear had been taken by a dog.

The owner got that right

I had a new pair of Nike shoes stolen by a lowlife farang while visiting a temple in Chiang Mai.

Unfortunately Thailand is attracting an awful lot of dregs these days, and this kind of lowlife ehavior should be expected. But it's a shame because it's giving most foreigners, who are honest a bad name, and it's likely tarnishing the image for the expat community too.

19 hours ago, Purdey said:

People leave their shoes outside before entering the home in Thailand. Also at temples. It is a pity that someone saw this as an opportunity to steal the shoes.

Also, why is CCTV such low quality?

Maybe to protect the identity of the people being recorded.

17 hours ago, marin said:

The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples. Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though.

Nonsense.....

My Mrs lost hers at a temple, although while she tried to buy some slip-ons I took up a spy position and spotted a Thai lady taking others.... she had a hidey hole with dozens of pairs tucked away. Just a bit nutty!

When I was a wine salesman in Phuket, I convinced a GM that at the dinner hour we should put a bottle on the table, put a price tag on it to encourage people to take a bottle with dinner.

Take a bottle these Eastern Euros did, the explanation being everything on the table is free, glass of water, salt and pepper....wine, WHY NOT! WINE NOT!!! You cheap freakin Charlies.

19 hours ago, marin said:

The Thai's dont steal shoes off the street or in temples. Wrong pairs have been taken by accident though.

happened to me in Chiang Mai a few years ago, new shoes lasted one day.

And risk getting someone else's foot rot?

Some things thrive really well in tropical climates.

1 hour ago, Priorexpat said:

When I was a wine salesman in Phuket, I convinced a GM that at the dinner hour we should put a bottle on the table, put a price tag on it to encourage people to take a bottle with dinner.

Take a bottle these Eastern Euros did, the explanation being everything on the table is free, glass of water, salt and pepper....wine, WHY NOT! WINE NOT!!! You cheap freakin Charlies.

Cork stoppers might have worked better!

I’ve had 2 pairs or shoes taken, or misplaced, from my room at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital in the last year. Just got a Sorry mister as a response. Considering that I was bed bound, you’d think they’d do better, but apparently not. Sad that you can’t even go down for surgery and have to worry about someone stealing your shoes.

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Nonsense.....

My Mrs lost hers at a temple, although while she tried to buy some slip-ons I took up a spy position and spotted a Thai lady taking others.... she had a hidey hole with dozens of pairs tucked away. Just a bit nutty!

I remember years ago, in Patong, there was a man who was stealing womens undergarments that were hung up to dry. He was eventually caught and his photo published.

13 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

there was a man who was stealing womens undergarments that were hung up to dry.

Nothing wrong with that. 😉