Pattaya, Chonburi – February 24th, 2026 — A 55-year-old German tourist was allegedly assaulted and robbed by a group of five transgender Thai women on Pattaya Beach Road, in an incident that has once again raised concerns about safety and recurring crimes targeting visitors in the popular resort city.
Update: The suspects in this crime were arrested on February 24th as described here.
According to police reports from Pattaya City Police Station, the altercation happened in the early hours along the beachside road opposite Soi Pattaya 13. Eyewitnesses and a viral video clip captured by bystanders show the group of transgender women surrounding and attacking the foreigner, rolling on the ground in a scuffle. In the footage, shouts can be heard urging others to grab the victim’s wallet or belongings.
The victim, identified as Mr. Markus, a 55-year-old German national, told police he had earlier invited one transgender woman to his accommodation to hang out and relax, mistakenly believing she was a cisgender woman. After taking a shower and finding out she was transgender, he escorted her out of the room. Upon returning, he discovered that 35,000 Thai baht in cash and 1,200 euros had gone missing from his room safe. Suspicious of the visitor, he went searching along Pattaya Beach and spotted the transgender woman he recognized.
Mr. Markus reportedly attempted to detain her and bring her to the police station to discuss the missing funds, but four to five of her transgender associates intervened, assaulting him and causing injuries. A good Samaritan nearby managed to retrieve the victim’s fallen wallet from the ground and return it to him, which reportedly angered the group further. The attackers then fled the scene after bystanders intervened and some began recording the incident. One of the suspects was heard yelling at people not to film the event.
At the scene, authorities recovered Mr. Markus’s mobile phone that had fallen into a nearby drainage pipe, with help from firefighters who retrieved it. Witnesses described seeing the group assaulting the tourist and attempting to take his possessions before the wallet dropped and was recovered by a civilian.
Mr. Markus sought medical attention for his injuries and then filed a formal complaint at Pattaya City Police Station, reporting the theft of nearly 100,000 baht in combined value (approximately 35,000 THB + 1,200 EUR) and the later assault, saying he planned to fully press charges.
Police stated that such incidents involving groups of transgender women targeting tourists, often involving theft, robbery, or violence, occur with some frequency in the Pattaya Beach area, particularly late at night. These events have repeatedly damaged the city’s image as a safe tourist destination, despite regular police crackdowns and patrols. Suspects often scatter when officers arrive but return to loiter under beachside trees once patrols move on, showing little fear of law enforcement.
Following the report, Pattaya police mobilized teams to the area to gather evidence, review any available CCTV footage, interview witnesses, and track down the suspects for legal action. Authorities told The Pattaya News team that they are taking the case seriously and will pursue charges related to assault, attempted robbery, and theft.
