In the bustling town of Samut Sakhon, a peculiar incident unfolded that left locals chuckling despite its criminal nature. It was the curious case of Somlak Chanthongtae, a 32-year-old with a unique brand of criminal etiquette. This aspiring gold thief, in a surprising display of manners, carefully removed his shoes before entering a shop to carry out his heist—all because a sign politely requested patrons to do so.
Somlak’s target was a gold shop near Wat Ketmadi Sriwararam, just about 200 meters from the busy Rama II Road. With swift hands, he nabbed two necklaces, totaling four baht in gold weight, valued at a staggering 171,600 baht. But in his haste to make a clean getaway, he left his shoes behind—perhaps his footwear found the shop too inviting to resist.
Fleeing on foot to his trusted motorcycle, Somlak zoomed off to a nearby community where he ditched his trusty two-wheeler for the convenience of a taxi. His journey took him to Mahachai, where he quickly sold the golden loot for a slightly lower sum of 162,000 baht. From there, with the thrill of the chase still buzzing through his veins, he embarked on a trip to the Mor Chit bus terminal and hopped onto a bus destined for Phrae. His plan? To dangle that newfound wealth as bait for a heartfelt marriage proposal to his sweetheart.
Alas, love’s grand gesture was cut dramatically short when the long arm of the law closed in, capturing Somlak in Phichit just as he journeyed to his beloved. The engagement ring of stolen gold may have been his dream, but the police ensured the ill-gotten gains remained intact, safely confiscated.
Upon returning to the scene of his caper for a police reconstruction, Somlak charmed staff with a sincere wai—a traditional gesture of respect and apology, explaining with endearing simplicity, “I took my shoes off at the door because the sign told me to.” While his respect for cleanliness was commendable, his regard for legal boundaries, not so much. Somlak had been visiting his mother in Bang Thorat district, plotting this escapade to fund his romantic intentions. The heist, devoid of violence and relying purely on distraction, was executed with merely a face mask for disguise. Despite the politeness in his methods, the authorities remained steadfast; Somlak was duly charged with theft.
Meanwhile, in the vibrant city of Chon Buri, a scandal unfolded involving heartbreak, betrayal, and vengeance. Supattra Nimsanguan, 28, found herself at the center of a storm after turning the tables on her deceitful ex, known only as “A.” Her dramatic response came after A maliciously sent a clandestine video of an intimate moment to her young son. Teaming up with her new beau, Nott (last name undisclosed), the duo delivered a fierce beating to A, hoping to teach him a lesson he’d never forget.
The assault left A worse for wear, and while Supattra expected a slap on the wrist for assault, the charges were far graver—attempted murder loomed over her, a gravity that left her stunned. Adding to her woes, Nott had already landed himself behind bars on a drug-related offense, leaving Supattra to face the music alone.
In another twist of sordid fate, Pak Chong police in Nakhon Ratchasima were hot on the trail of a husband who vanished after his wife, Sinuan, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Neighbors first raised the alarm after noticing her absence and a foul odor emanating from the mysteriously locked bedroom. Breaking down the door revealed Sinuan’s tragic fate—stabbed in the throat, strangled, and hastily covered with a blanket. While attempts to locate her husband Bancha, or Deow, proved fruitless, chilling clues hinted at foul play: an unfinished hole beside their house, possibly meant to conceal her body, lay hidden—its excavation thwarted either by hard soil or inebriation.
And in the agricultural heartland of Buri Ram, the woes of rice price fluctuations rippled even among the less scrupulous. Young thief Chinnakorn, 26, discovered that even the world of crime isn’t immune to economic downturns. Filching sacks of rice to sell for drug money, he found the mill’s offer insultingly lower than before. With the Thai Rice Mills Association reporting a drop in paddy rice prices, Chinnakorn’s lament was peppered with irony—the hardships of farmers inadvertently extending to rice-loving rogues. Despite his grievances, the scales of justice tipped unfavorably against him, as he faced charges of theft and drug offenses.
These tales, woven with humor, oddity, and misfortune, remind us that in the tapestry of crime, not all threads are of the same ilk. Whether in the curious conduct of a shoe-conscious thief or the impassioned folly of love and revenge, life continues to spin tales both cautionary and captivating.
This shoe-less heist is honestly bizarre but kinda charming in its own twisted way. So much better than those violent thefts you often hear about.
I agree, but we can’t let politeness distract from the fact that he committed a serious crime.
Oh, for sure! It’s just an amusing detail in the context of everything else that’s happening.
I bet this guy would’ve been a great salesman. All that planning just for a marriage proposal? That’s sincere dedication, albeit misplaced.
Using stolen gold for a proposal is wild. Love might make you do dumb things, but that’s taking it to another level.
It’s funny how the economic impacts of rice prices even reach the criminal underground. Makes you wonder about the broader effects.
It’s a harsh reality that economic downturns affect everyone. But stealing rice for drug money is just so morally bankrupt.
Desperation drives people to do crazy things. Doesn’t justify it, but sheds light on their situations.
Somlak’s actions are a lesson in how not to plan a crime. He left his shoes, literally leaving ‘footprints’ of his identity. Hilarious rookie mistake.
Classic overconfidence! Thought he could be a gentleman and a thief simultaneously.
Definitely! Sometimes respect for the rules and criminal activity don’t mix well.
Supattra’s story is heartbreaking. How A could send something like that is beyond me. She might’ve gone too far, but the provocation was beyond cruel.
Sending a video like that is unforgivable, but jumping to violence complicates things legally.
It’s easy to say she shouldn’t have jumped to violence, but when kids are involved, people snap. It’s a sad situation all around.
Absolutely, emotional reactions can be hard to control, especially under such circumstances.
And what about the neighbors who smelled something and raised alarm? They might have saved the police from losing crucial evidence in the future.
Or they just wanted to get rid of the smell. Either way, they helped solve a potential murder case.
I can’t get over the hole beside the house for a body. Who thinks that’s actually going to work without being noticed?
I’m shocked, too. Shows the recklessness and lack of real planning in desperation. It’s tragic more than anything.
The irony of Somlak’s politeness gets overshadowed by how sad the rice thief situation really is. It’s a grim reality of our world.
Am I the only one who feels like these stories are straight out of a twisted novel? Each one has such a bizarre twist, it’s hard to believe they’re real.
Chinnakorn trying to steal rice for drug money during a price drop is a testament to how the economy hits all sectors, even crime.
There’s a bitter irony to it, but we also have to focus on addressing the root cause: drug addiction and economic disparity.
Can we talk about the drama in Chon Buri? It just shows how personal conflicts can escalate quickly into major legal issues.
I feel sorry for Somlak. Some people take absurd risks for love, though they end up in cuffs instead of wedded bliss.
Romantic? Maybe in his head. But laws are laws, and theft should not be dismissed for such reasons.
I hope Thailand’s legal system has solutions for people who fall into these traps. One mistake shouldn’t ruin a life, even if it requires punishment.
Agreed. Justice should always be fair and rehabilitative when possible.
Honestly, what a tapestry of life these stories create. So many lives, so intertwined in unexpected ways.