PATTAYA — Police in Pattaya are investigating two separate cases in which foreign tourists reported being deceived and robbed by women and transgender individuals late Tuesday night. The incidents highlight ongoing challenges for law enforcement in addressing opportunistic crimes targeting visitors in the city’s nightlife areas.
In the first case, 47-year-old Australian tourist Mr. V reported to Pattaya City Police at around 4:00 a.m. that he had been robbed of 7,000 baht (approximately USD 217) from his hotel room on Soi Pattaya Klang 12 in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Mr. V told police that he met a woman, who said she was from Laos, while walking along Pattaya Beach at about 3:00 a.m. She agreed to accompany him to his hotel but asked to bring along a transgender friend. Once inside his room, Mr. V went to take a shower. When he came out, both individuals were gone along with the cash from his wallet.
In a separate case reported around the same time to the same police officer, 32-year-old Bangladeshi tourist Mr. MH said he was assaulted and robbed by three Thai women. According to his account, two women joined a third already in his hotel room before all three threatened and physically attacked him, demanding his valuables. He reported losing 800 Singapore dollars, 200 Malaysian ringgit, and 4,000 Thai baht — worth a total of about 25,500 baht (USD 790).
Mr. MH said he was left without money for transportation and began walking to the police station until a motorcycle taxi driver, upon hearing his story, offered him a free ride.
Pattaya, a popular beach resort city known for its nightlife, has long struggled with crimes involving theft and scams targeting tourists, particularly in its entertainment districts. Police say investigations are ongoing, but such cases are often difficult to resolve due to the lack of regulation over the local sex trade and the transient nature of those involved. Authorities advise visitors to exercise caution when interacting with strangers in nightlife areas, especially late at night.
