Banglamung District officials raided three underground casinos, arresting 11, seizing cash and slot machines, and creating a controversy that would cost Pattaya’s police chief his job.

Two Bulgarian men were arrested for allegedly using fake ATM cards to loot bank machines in Pattaya.

Georgi Petrov Prodanov, 34, and Boris Georgiev Katsarski, 34, were apprehended May 8 following a tipoff from Siam Commercial Bank security employees.

A Russian couple that went for an after-midnight swim on Pattaya Beach returned to shore to find their clothes and motorbike stolen.

Still dripping wet and in their underwear, Anatol Yi Zakharov, 34, and Tamara Liashchenko, 29, filed a complaint with Pattaya police around 3:30 a.m. May 10 following the theft in front of the Twin Palms Hotel.

Along with their close, thieves took two Apple iPhones, 1,200 baht, $100 cash, a credit card and keys to their hotel room. Officers took them back to their hotel to dress.

Three people were injured when a gunman sprayed automatic-weapon fire at the home of a Pong Sub-district village chief.

Nikorn Kradkrai, 44, headman for Moo 3, his wife Paengsri Saensila, 45, and son Mukhpol  Kradkrai, 11, were hospitalized with treatable gunshot wounds following the April 25 shooting at the Kradkrai family antique shop and residence. Nikorn was grazed in the shoulder while his wife and son sustained shots to the legs.

An Australian man taking photographs from outside his apartment died after falling from his 21st floor balcony.

The body of Mark Anthony Woodward, 45, was found outside the View Talay 5 condominium in Jomtien Beach April 30. A smashed camera was still around his neck.

Police said it appeared Woodward was attempting to take photos of the interior of his condo from the balcony, standing on a chair to get a good angle. He apparently lost his balance and fell over the railing.

Two Indians tourists were robbed by women they picked up at 4 a.m. in South Pattaya.

Gumeer Singh, 49, and Raghubir Singh, 51, lost $3,800 and 100,000 rupees in the April 18 incident.

The pair said they were staying in a hotel and went out to find some food. They said they met the two women in front of the hotel and accompanied them back to the women’s apartment for massages.

Five Thais and Cambodians were arrested for allegedly gambling illegally at Bali Hai Pier.

Police raided a “hi-lo” game at the South Pattaya jetty around 10 p.m. April 14, finding 20 locals and Khmer immigrants playing cards. About 15 of them jumped in the sea and escaped. Captured were Wachan Chaichana, 53; Chuchat Soiphimai, 42; Pratheep Khumdaeng, 43; Jakrop Khumkhong; and Cambodian Haisen Bunna, 40.

Police proudly showed off the bonanza collected from the high-stakes game: 40 baht.

The dastardly gamblers are brought to the police station to face reprimand.

Central Festival Pattaya Beach got into the Songkran spirit, hosting a musical foam party for soggy New Year’s revelers.

Pattaya City Councilman Rattanachai Sutidechanai opened the April 19 party with Central Department Stores executives and representatives from sponsor Singha Corporation Co.

The vessel the Kor Nongmai 7 (left) suffered a gaping hole in its side during a crash with the Khemthong (right), which sustained only minor damage to its bow. Tourism Ministry officials are again promising stricter regulations after 18 South Korean tourists, 1 Korean guide and 1 Thai guide were injured, five seriously, when two speedboats collided off Koh Larn.

A Swiss expat suffering from kidney disease drowned when he went skinny dipping on Wong Amat Beach.

The nude body of Hans-Peter Hermann Stamminger, 65, washed ashore near the Sky Beach Condo April 15. The body showed no injury except a needle hole from an IV bag in his arm. He’d been dead about 10 hours.