PATTAYA, Thailand – A 21-year-old woman had her mobile phone stolen inside a police station in Pattaya, Thailand, early on June 3rd, 2025. The incident occurred at the Pattaya City Police Station in Nongprue leaving the victim stunned that such a theft could happen in what she assumed was a secure location.
At approximately 12:36 a.m., Police Lieutenant Athiphon Tangchutweesap, Deputy Inspector of Investigations, received a report from Ms. Pimpanapha Paengphan, a resident of Nakhon Ratchasima province. She reported that her Infinix R17 mobile phone, valued at approximately 4,900 baht, was stolen while she was charging it inside the police station.
According to Ms. Pimpanapha, she had entered the station to charge her phone, which had run out of battery. She plugged it in near a water dispenser provided for public use and sat on a nearby chair to wait. Feeling tired, she briefly dozed off, only to wake up and discover her phone missing. Despite searching the area, she found no trace of it and concluded it had been stolen. Distraught, she immediately reported the incident to the police.
“I came to Pattaya from my hometown to travel and look for work, but I haven’t found a job yet,” Ms. Pimpanapha said. “My phone battery died, so I came to the police station to charge it, thinking it was a safe place. I never imagined there would be a thief here. I’m heartbroken and at a loss for words.”
Police Lieutenant Athiphon recorded the incident in the station’s daily log and coordinated with the investigative team to review CCTV footage from the station. Authorities are now working to identify the culprit, who boldly committed the theft in a government facility without apparent fear of the law. The police are determined to bring the suspect to justice.
The incident has raised concerns about security within the police station, leading to further investigation to ensure such events are not repeated.
