CHON BURI - Two transgender women were arrested for stealing a wallet containing cash and personal papers from an Australian man holidaying in Pattaya beach city shortly before dawn on Thursday.
Chaiwat Sriwanit, 24, and Thanatcha Saengsan, 21, fled when tourist police asked to search them on Pattaya Beach Road in Bang Lamung district of this eastern province. Police gave chase and the pair were subsequently caught further along the beach around 5.30am.
A search uncovered a foreigner's stolen wallet containing 16,000 baht cash and personal documents in Chaiwat's possession.
Pol Maj Piyapong Ensarn, Pattaya tourist police inspector, said the arrest followed a complaint by Bruce Lauchie McCown, 34, an Australian visitor, that the two transgender women had stolen his wallet.
He said they approached him when he was walking alone along Beach Road early Thursday morning. The duo acted friendly, getting close to him and then hugging him. Shortly after they left, he discovered his wallet was missing, Mr McCown said.
Chaiwat and Thanatcha allegedly confessed to having pickpocketed the tourist and were handed over to Pattaya police for legal action.