PATTAYA, Thailand – A Pattaya woman says she was left heartbroken after a younger couple she had allowed to stay in her home allegedly stole her SUV and disappeared with it for more than a month before being caught in a planned sting operation.
At around 1:16 a.m. on April 17, 33-year-old Thidaporn filed a complaint with police at Pattaya City Police Station after officers detained two suspects accused of stealing her grey Ford Escape SUV.
The suspects were captured near Soi Nern Plub Wan in East Pattaya after the victim’s brother allegedly lured them into returning to collect belongings, allowing the family to alert police and arrange their arrest.
Thidaporn told investigators that the vehicle disappeared on March 10. After reviewing CCTV footage, she discovered that the people who had taken the SUV were a younger couple she knew personally and had previously allowed to stay at her home.
She said she had already reported the theft to police but remained shocked that people she trusted and treated like family would allegedly steal from her.
The woman said the couple had frequently visited her home and later asked if they could stay with her. She agreed out of kindness and trust, never expecting them to allegedly steal her vehicle.
