Lingerie Thief Unveiled: Pae’s Peculiar Underwear Collection Leads to Arrest in Buriram

In the bustling town of Buriram, tucked away in the Isaan province of Thailand, a rather peculiar tale unfolded that could have been plucked straight out of a crime novel. The protagonist? A 32-year-old man originally hailing from Udon Thani, by the name of Pae, whose unusual hobby landed him in a notorious spot with local law enforcement.

Pae’s journey to infamy began with a deluge of complaints swamping the Lahan Sai Police Station. This quaint district had become the stage for a bizarre mystery—women were reporting their undergarments missing in action, vanishing from under their very noses. As the embers of speculation smoldered, the police set their sights on finding the lingerie-loving rogue.

CCTV became their trusted witness in this tale, painting a curious picture of a man cloaked in short jeans and a T-shirt, topped with the anonymity of a cap and a mystifying towel disguising his head. This modern-day phantom was traced to the serene precincts of Pho Thong Temple, working the amusement park at the local festival—a spot seemingly incongruous with his clandestine nocturnal activities.

The reveal came on a sultry July 22, when the authorities, equipped with irrefutable evidence, closed in on Pae. As they rifled through his temple abode, their eyes widened at the spectacle—54 pieces of pilfered underwear, meticulously cataloged like rare butterflies in a collector’s trove. There they lay: 28 pairs of panties, 25 bras, and two sets of alluring pajamas.

At the police station, in a room crackling with tension, Pae laid bare his story. Tasked with maintaining the amusement rides and collecting fees, he confessed to transforming into a most unusual type of collector between the witching hours of 1 and 3 AM. He refused the assumptions of prurient intentions, claiming never to have sullied his finds with sordid acts. Instead, he professed a simple fondness for their aesthetic and curated them as one might a collection of stamps. The officers, however, remained skeptical, their incredulity hanging in the air.

Pae showcased an amusing bravado, admitting to underestimating the acumen of the Buriram police. He had lived in the illusion of outpacing justice, considering his transient residency as an insurmountable disguise. Now, however, he stood corrected, acknowledging the dogged pursuit of the investigators with an almost begrudging admiration.

As the scales of justice weighed his actions, Pae faced the stern prospect of up to five years in prison and a fine ascending to 10,000 baht, as dictated by Section 335 of Thailand’s Criminal Law concerning theft during nighttime hours.

This peculiar caper in Buriram has woven itself into the tapestry of local lore, a curious chapter in the town’s history. It’s a story that invites a chuckle or two, despite its mischievous nature, etched indelibly into the annals of law enforcement in Thailand.