Pattaya transvestites charged with picking British tourist’s pocket
Pattaya police on Monday arrested two transvestites for allegedly stealing cash and a credit card from a British tourist and using the card to buy Bt120,000 worth of gold ornaments.
Tipakorn Surintham and Banchong Jantawong, both 33, were arrested on a warrant issued by the Pattaya Court.
James William Jack Mason, 31, had filed a complaint saying he was on Walking Street late on the night of August 31 when the two accused approached him to chat.
He soon discovered his cash and credit card missing, then got a message on his phone saying his credit card had been used at a shopping mall.
Police found that the card was used to buy trinkets at a gold shop on Soi None Plub Wan and studied CCTV recordings to identify the people with the card.
Police said the accused confessed and admitted working as a team – Tipakorn picking pockets while Banchong kept the victims distracted.
They have allegedly been arrested 15 times previously on similar charges.