Unusual Crimes in Samut Prakan
In a surprising case of brazen theft, criminals in Samut Prakan took advantage of rising tides to travel by boat and break into riverside homes. The thieves managed to enter three different houses in the Na Kluea sub-district, demonstrating an alarming level of confidence in their actions. They even turned on the air conditioning and drank from the fridge, showing no signs of concern about being caught.
The first home targeted belonged to Sarayut, a 38-year-old Buddha amulet trader. The house, which is a single-storey wooden structure, had visible muddy footprints both beneath the house and on the steps. The front door was forced open using a screwdriver, breaking the padlock. Inside, items were scattered, and the thieves stole wristwatches, old coins, collectible banknotes, and amulets worth over 50,000 baht. What disturbed Sarayut most was that the intruders turned on the fan and air conditioner and even drank two bottles of water from the fridge.
The second house was a three-story wooden building belonging to 85-year-old twin sisters. The intruder forced open the back door and stole valuable items from the second and third floors, including two 12cm Luang Pho To Buddha images, a medium-sized safe, over 100 collectible antique coins, six CCTV cameras, two old silver betel sets, more than 20 gold rings, and 30 amulets valued at over 40,000 baht. The sisters had been staying in Muang district since July for easier care and medical visits, and when they returned, they found the back door pried open and their valuables missing.
The third house belonged to a former university lecturer. The intruders stole 30 baht-weight of gold jewelry, a diamond set, cash, collectible coins and banknotes, and amulets, totaling over 3 million baht. Police believe the thieves were locals familiar with the homeowners’ routines, working in pairs or more, and targeting houses along the canal using boats during high tide.
Drug Dealing in a Remote Location
In another unusual case, a man in Phetchaburi chose an odd location to deal drugs: a small shelter deep inside woodland. He was caught red-handed by the “Pachada” special police unit from Cha-Am district. Pol Col Apirak Permchai, chief of Cha-Am police, arrested Sawat, a 31-year-old from Photharam district in Ratchaburi. Officers seized 4,407 ya ba pills and 38.69 grammes of ya ice from Sawat, who had hidden them in a charcoal kiln shelter in a dense forest.
Sawat was living in the shelter in village 10 of Khao Yai sub-district. He was a low-level drug agent distributing narcotics to local youths. When officers approached, he tried to flee but was caught. A search revealed crystal meth in his shoulder bag, and the shelter contained many meth pills. Sawat admitted the drugs were his, and a woman known as Ying was involved in supplying him with meth pills. He would receive phone calls informing him where to deliver or sell the meth. Sawat had previously been arrested in Hua Hin district and is now facing charges. Authorities are looking for “Ying” and other network members.
A Tragic Case of Mental Illness
A man from Khon Kaen, known to suffer from mental illness, stabbed a neighbor to death, claiming the victim was partly responsible for his divorce. A local hospital later confirmed he had not been taking his prescribed medication. Ban Fang police arrested the suspect, Sawang, 56, after he stabbed his neighbor Khoe, 68, in Ban Lao sub-district. The suspect was walking around with a knife, and police ordered him to drop it before taking him into custody. They seized a short pointed knife, a bloodstained machete, and a hooked machete with a wooden handle.
Sawang admitted to stabbing Khoe out of resentment, believing the victim contributed to his divorce. A urine test found no illegal drugs. Later, Ban Fang Hospital confirmed that Khoe had died from his injuries. Investigations revealed that Sawang lived alone, suffered from a psychiatric illness, and had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals multiple times but did not take his medication as prescribed. He was charged with murder.
Content Creation Amid Border Tensions
Despite the challenges faced by ordinary traders due to the border crisis, a Cambodian influencer is thriving. Thai news outlets reported on a young Cambodian influencer who bought roast pig, roast duck, and side dishes to treat Cambodian soldiers at a frontline base. This gesture earned the influencer over $57,530, or about 2,094,360 baht.
On August 13, the Facebook page “Army Military Force” shared images of the influencer sitting in front of the troops, accompanied by simple food in white styrofoam boxes and more elaborate fare such as a roast pig in a box. Meanwhile, border trade between Thailand and Cambodia has declined sharply, with losses estimated at up to 500 million baht per month in some northeastern provinces. Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, commander of the Second Army Region, stated that the border is not yet ready to reopen.