Nasty twist to scam tales; knife in the back; nasty tom

In the name of love

Watchalaporn: Lost vehicles

A scam artist in Loei province, who unbeknown to his latest victim had eight arrest warrants against his name, wasted no time in declaring his love for her.

Watchalaporn (no surname given), 32, from Loei, was duped through a dating page by a man identified as Thawatchai (no surname given), 41, from Sa Kaeo province.

After meeting him online, he came to her house just a day later on Sept 19, professing love and promising marriage.

Over several weeks, he convinced her to let him borrow vehicles — two pickup trucks and a motorcycle — under various pretexts, including business investment trips and cash withdrawals.

By Oct 15, he had vanished with all three vehicles, valued at more than 1.2 million baht. Investigations revealed he has eight previous fraud warrants for similar scams.

Recounting the saga, Watchalaporn, who lives in Wang Saphung district, admitted they chatted for a single day before he professed his love and drove across several provinces to meet her in person.

“He said he wanted to live with me and build a life together,” she recalled. Believing she had found someone sincere, she let him move in.

The promises came thick and fast. Within days, the man was talking about marriage. Her elder sister, 34, said he even ordered gravel to pave the yard — “so the wedding guests wouldn’t trip,” he joked.

The family took it as a good sign.

But the dream soured quickly. Soon after settling in, the man asked to borrow two vehicles — a motorcycle and a pickup truck — saying he wanted to change the tyres.

First, on Oct 10, he asked to borrow the motorcycle, a blue Honda Wave 125. Later that night he phoned, asking to be picked up in Wang Saphung town, claiming the repairs were not finished.

Two days later, he lured the family into another errand — a trip to Sakon Nakhon to “collect money” from someone who owed his mother.

They drove there in a grey Toyota Revo pickup. At a market, he told them to wait while he fetched the cash.

When he returned, he said the money had already been transferred to his mother, then asked to take the truck for another tyre change.

At 10 pm, he called again from a petrol station, saying the vehicle was still being serviced and asking to be picked up. By then, the family started to get suspicious, but did not act fast enough.

On Oct 15, Thawatchai asked to take a white Isuzu pickup into Muang district of Loei to withdraw money. That was the last they saw of him.

By the time the woman filed a complaint with Nong Ya Plong police, all three vehicles were gone, along with her dreams of love.

Officers revealed the man is accused of hatching similar scams in other provinces.

Adding insult to injury, the same day the family received a call from a used-car dealership in Bangkok’s Bang Khae district, asking about the Isuzu pickup being offered for sale.

When they told the dealer it had been stolen, he sent back a short video clip confirming the vehicle’s identity. Police are looking for him.

In another fraud case which hit the headlines last week, a factory worker from Maha Sarakham was duped by a woman he met at a dating site into thinking she was more attractive than she claimed, which is nothing usual for such scams.

'A': Told to have sex

She borrowed large sums from him, but in a nasty twist when he asked for the money back, was told he would have to make love to her first.

Ekaphop Luangprasert, founder of the Facebook page “Sai Mai Must Survive,” who helps victims of crime, took “A” (no other details given), to lay a complaint with police about the woman.

Nong Ploy (no other names given), about 30 years old, claimed to run a textile factory. They met in July last year.

Although she refused to do a video call, saying she was shy, she sent nearly 50 photos, convincing A of her authenticity. Soon after, Nong Ploy began asking to borrow small amounts of money, starting with 1,000 baht.

She later claimed she needed funds to produce a large batch of shirts and warned that her factory might close — or that she might commit suicide — if the money was not provided.

Trusting her and believing in their relationship, A borrowed 100,000–200,000 baht from colleagues, pawned his Toyota Vios for 60,000 baht, and transferred additional bonus money to her. Over the course of a year, he lost between 500,000–600,000 baht.

In June 2025, after losing his job and facing mounting debt, A decided to visit Nong Ploy in Si Sa Ket province.

She refused to meet him, claiming she needed to wait for her relatives to return the money. Eventually, she told him that if he wanted to get the money back, he would have to have sex with her.

Shocked at how different she looked in person compared to her photos, A reluctantly agreed, hoping to recover his money.

The next day, when he met Nong Ploy’s parents, there was no discussion of repayment.

Realising he had been deceived, he contemplated suicide before contacting the “Sai Mai Must Survive” page for help.

A filed a complaint with Wang Noi police, who are investigating.

I’ll leave the knife as a keepsake

Sarutthaya: Admits stabbing

A woman in Ang Thong driven by jealousy stabbed her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, leaving her critically injured with a knife lodged deep in her back.

The suspect admitted the assault, saying she acted out of jealousy.

The man involved said he had already broken up with the suspect before starting a new relationship.

Muang police were called to a house on Oct 13 after the victim was stabbed and seriously wounded.

They found a trail of blood at the single-storey house, leading into a back room. A 30cm bloodstained knife was found on the floor.

Standing nearby, waiting to surrender, was the assailant, identified as Sarutthaya, or “Shop” (no surname given), 24.

The injured woman, Kanokwan, or Nok (no surname given), 32, had already been taken to Ang Thong Hospital with a stab wound to the back so deep that the knife was still embedded. Her condition was reported as serious.

Sarutthaya admitted the attack, saying she acted out of jealousy after learning her boyfriend, Nattaphat or “Bank” (no surname given), 26, with whom she had not clearly broken up, had started seeing the victim.

On the day of the incident, she found out that he was at a friend’s house and went there.

When she saw him with his new girlfriend, an argument broke out, and she stabbed the woman once in the back.

Bang-on (no surname given), 62, the homeowner, told police that Nattaphat, a friend of her son’s, had brought his new girlfriend to the house for the first time.

His ex-girlfriend showed up and the stabbing occurred.

A friend of the victim, who was on a video call with her at the time, confirmed witnessing the argument and the attack during the call.

Nattaphat told police he had ended his relationship with the suspect some time ago before recently starting to see the injured woman.

He said his ex-girlfriend showed up unexpectedly, argued with them, and then stabbed his new girlfriend. He pulled the knife out and rushed her to hospital.

Police charged Sarutthaya with the attack.

Tom imprisons ex-lover

Supatsara: Tom kept her prisoner

A tomboy in Pattaya tricked her ex-girlfriend to a hotel where she held her prisoner for three days, police were told.

Supatsara (no surname given), 24, complained to Pattaya City police about the ordeal at a South Pattaya hotel, which started on Oct 11.

She said her ex-girlfriend, unnamed in news reports, beat her repeatedly and seized her belongings — including her wallet, cash, mobile phone, ID card, and other documents.

The suspect locked her in the hotel room and kept her confined for three days, a spell which ended only by accident, when she was rescued by a delivery rider.

Supatsara said the suspect took her out of the room briefly on Oct 14.

While walking along the road near the intersection between Pattaya Sai 3 and South Pattaya Road, Supatsara saw an opportunity and ran toward a passing motorcycle, begging rider Navin Meesang, 21, for help.

Mr Navin said he had just dropped off a passenger and was heading home when he noticed a woman arguing with a tomboy by the roadside.

The distressed woman suddenly ran into his path, pleading for help and clearly terrified.

He took her to the police to report the incident. Authorities said they would summon the ex-girlfriend for questioning.

Mum steps in; sawing ties; inmate jibe; rainy day thief

I’ll take charge, dear

A girl fights with her rival with the support of her mother.

A Phatthalung mother is accused of encouraging her teenage daughter to beat an older rival after a row over a social media livestream.

The attack unfolded outside a secondary school in Pak Phayun district when the mother took her daughter and several younger classmates to assault a Grade 9 student.

The incident occurred last week when “Nong Namun”, the Grade 9 student, was leaving school with six friends.

“B” (no other details given), mother of “Dek Biu”, a Grade 7 student, brought her daughter and six to seven friends to confront the seniors.

B instructed her daughter to pull Namun’s hair, slap her, slam the victim’s head on the pavement, and even stomp on her face.

Witnesses say B stood guard while her daughter assaulted her rival. B also threatened the victim’s friends against intervening.

Namun’s friends were too intimidated to intervene, but filmed the incident for evidence. The attack only stopped when a parent stepped in to separate the students.

Following the assault, Namun experienced nausea and vomiting, likely from head trauma, and was taken to the hospital.

The feud began over arguments and insults exchanged during a livestream. A clip showing B and her daughter announcing their intent to attack the senior student had circulated on social media.

The parents of the victim have filed a police report at Pak Phayun station.

The school has summoned both families for questioning, but B and her daughter Biu did not appear, sending only the girl’s grandmother in their place.

Officials said they could not contact the pair, and Biu has not returned to school.

Police are reviewing video evidence and collecting witness statements to proceed with legal action.

Handy with a saw

A girl was injured after her father attacked her with a saw, below left.

A Samut Prakan father attacked his daughter with a hand saw, leaving her with injuries to her wrist and her side.

A 15-year-old girl was seriously injured after her father attacked her with the saw at their home in Bang Phli district, though the father says his daughter hit him first.

The girl suffered deep lacerations to her right hand, and cuts along her flank. She was taken to hospital.

Her father, Theerasak (no surname given), was nabbed by police and taken in for questioning.

Witnesses described the incident as stemming from a minor argument.

The father became angry after repeatedly calling his daughter to help with chores while she continued to play on her phone.

He initially tried to attack her with a knife, witnesses said.

The daughter grabbed a saw to defend herself, but it fell to the ground. The father then picked it up and struck her across the hand and back.

Locals noted said the pair often quarrelled but had never previously used weapons, and police had occasionally intervened.

Theerasak said he had been collecting scrap metal when he called his daughter to pass him a bag. She refused repeatedly, and abused him.

He said she and a young male friend spoke to him disrespectfully, and during the argument, he said the daughter first attempted to strike him with the saw.

When it fell, he picked it up and swung it back at her.

He said he worked nearby, tending to a small shed behind their home, while the main house belonged to his employer.

The injured girl, identified only as A, 15, told reporters she had previously lived in a children’s home in Pattani province for eight years before running away.

At the time of the attack, she had been playing with a neighbour’s child when her father became angry and struck her with the saw.

She said this was the third time her father had attacked her in this manner.

Neighbours recalled that the father had previously been homeless.

They felt sorry for the girl, called authorities and had her placed at the children’s shelter in Pattani.

Police are investigating.

Kratom shop delusions

The crime scene outside the kratom shop.

A clash broke out in Bangkok when a recently released inmate attacked a man outside a kratom shop with a knife, only to be shot dead in return fire.

Lat Phrao police were called to the scene opposite Klong Chan Flat 10, where they found the body of Kulphong (no surname given), 26, lying on the street.

He had been shot twice — once in the neck and once through the leg — and a knife was found nearby.

The shooter, identified as Kraiwii (no surname given), 33, was found badly injured with stab wounds to his face and torso.

He was taken to hospital by rescue workers.

The shop owner, Nik (no surname given), 26, told reporters he had been sitting outside the shop talking with his older brother (the shooter) when the victim approached.

“We weren’t drinking or taking anything,” he said.

“We saw him walking back and forth, filming videos, muttering to himself. We didn’t pay attention.

“Then suddenly he rushed at my brother and stabbed him. My brother fell, pulled out his gun, fired once, and told him to leave. But he didn’t — he climbed on top and stabbed my brother’s face.

“That’s when my brother fired a second shot. He staggered off and collapsed in front of the shop.”

Nik said he was terrified and ran to call rescuers. His brother refused to flee, saying he would wait for the police — but his wounds were so serious that rescuers had to rush him to hospital.

He added he suspected the victim had planned the attack, as he was seen stashing items under the flats earlier, possibly as preparation for escape.

While there had been no serious quarrels before, Nik recalled that one or two weeks earlier his brother had greeted the man, asked if he had just been released from prison, and even wished him well after he said he was looking for work.

“That was the last time they met until the attack,” he said.

Nearby, the victim’s aunt, Nong, 66, said she had seen her nephew sitting outside her home only 10 metres from the scene that night, playing on his phone.

Moments later, she was told he had been shot. “I’m heartbroken,” she said. “It’s shocking that someone would carry a gun in a community like this.”

She confirmed her nephew had only been released from prison at the start of the month, after serving time for firearms and drug-related offences.

But since his release, she said, he had tried to turn his life around, working at a department store.

“He was clear-minded, not unstable,” she said.

Police are waiting for the victim to recover before they can question him. No word as to charges was to hand.

Just stepping out to steal

  A man with a red umbrella calmly steals a pickup.

A Rayong man was bewildered after a stranger casually walked up to his pickup with an umbrella and drove off while he was inside a shop for just two minutes.

Police in Nikhom Phatthana district were looking for the bronze Nissan NV, which was stolen from in front of a store in Map Kha subdistrict.

Surveillance footage shows the vehicle parked with the engine running while the owner briefly went inside the shop.

A man wearing a long-sleeve shirt and a mask, carrying a red umbrella, approached the truck.

He glanced inside to make sure it was empty, tossed his umbrella into the truck bed, and drove off toward Pluak Daeng district.

The owner, Fight (no surname given), said he normally rides a motorcycle to the store, but due to rain that morning, had borrowed his father’s truck.

He was on his way to work when he dropped in to the store.

“I don’t understand how someone could steal it so easily,” he said.

Police suspect the thief had been nearby, emerging from a side alley close to the store.

Fight expressed confidence authorities would recover the vehicle thanks to the abundance of CCTV cameras in the area.

He added, with a mix of frustration and humour, that if the thief happens to see the news and returns the truck along with its contents, he wouldn’t press charges — the vehicle contained important documents.

Hero cop; mad fan; debtor peril; undies stash

Robber shot dead after fight

The owner of the motorcycle hits the thief across the back with an aluminium bar.

A young policeman in Ranong shot a burglary suspect dead after the man stabbed him in the abdomen.

Pol Lance Corporal Pornpipat Thepmala, responding alone on a patrol motorcycle, intercepted the suspect after a high-speed chase in Muang district.

The suspect, identified as Boonthin Homchan, charged at the policeman with a knife, stabbing him in the abdomen beneath his bulletproof vest. Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat, despite his injuries, fired multiple shots, killing the suspect at the scene.

The drama began when the thief snatched a motorbike from a home in Bang Rin sub-district, prompting police to set up roadblocks around town.

The suspect fled nearly 30km toward La-oon district while being pursued by police, but Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat tackled him alone after the suspect crashed off the road.

Evidence recovered included the stolen motorcycle, a steel knife, methamphetamine, cash, and spent cartridges.

Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat

Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat was taken to hospital for emergency surgery. 

At Ranong Hospital, Governor Supot Phutikiatkajorn and Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Thanawat Wattanakun visited Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat with gifts and words of encouragement. He is making a good recovery.

National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phunphen said Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat would be transferred to a station in Muang district as a reward for his heroism, so he can work closer to his parents.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat recalled the harrowing moment:

“When I saw my intestines spilling out, I asked a passing songthaew driver to take me to hospital. He was panicking, so I told him, ‘Just drive my car instead.’

“I stopped at the local health centre first to call my commander and report that I’d been stabbed.”

Reporters also spoke to the couple whose home was targeted in the burglary.

Manat Paengaon, 57, and his wife Kannikar, 53, said they were at home with relatives when the suspect pulled a knife and climbed onto their parked motorbike.

Mr Manat grabbed a two-metre aluminum pole and struck the man once on the back as he rode away.

Police, alerted via the 191 hotline, checked CCTV cameras nearby, which captured the robbery. Within half an hour, the suspect was confronted by Pol L/Cpl Pornpipat.

Have bag, will marry

Meihua, or 'Barry', standing outside Ta's house.

An Udon Thani man is warning an obsessive fan who stalked him on social media not to come back to his home, or he will again have to call the police.

The man, identified as Ta in news reports, said the woman has turned up with a suitcase outside his place three times, hoping he would let her into his life.

The two do not know each other, and it is not known how the woman, identified in reports as Meihua, also known as “Barry,” aged 60, first noticed him.

However, she has told neighbours that he is so handsome that she just has to turn up to his house for a look. She also entertained ideas of marriage.

The first incident outside the house in Muang district passed without incident, with Meihua leaving after two hours when no one answered the door.

Ta

On the second occasion, however, she turned up with her bags again, but this time proposed marriage and claimed she wanted children with Ta. She also boasted of her family background and wealth.

Ta said the woman follows his social media accounts, liking his posts and sending incomprehensible messages.

Last year she even obtained his phone number from his brother’s restaurant page and called, pretending to be interested in his Siberian husky. He blocked the dozens of accounts she used, but every few months she would reappear with new profiles.

The latest incident took place last week, her third visit to his house.

Ta said she again arrived with her luggage, shouted, tried to hug him, and caused a commotion.

Neighbours helped push her away after two hours. She claimed she would never return, as her family had arranged for her to marry someone else. However, CCTV later showed her loitering nearby.

Ta said a youngster living nearby alerted him to her return.

He found her at an elderly neighbour’s house where she was having a meal. When challenged, she insisted she was there to visit the neighbour, not him.

“When I asked her to leave, the visitor became aggressive, lunging at me and grabbing my shirt, until I pushed her away. My shirt was torn in the scuffle,” Ta said.

He called the police, who persuaded the woman to leave and gave her a lift to the local bus stop. Ta urged the woman not to return, or he would have to call the law again to have her carted away.

“It’s not about being handsome. She just fixates on whatever I post — whether I’m taking care of my mother or writing something about family. She twists it into thinking I’m talking to her. I’ve never met her privately, never given her hope.”

Neighbours confirmed the woman had appeared several times, each time with luggage, insisting she was his girlfriend and that they would be married.

A 17-year-old neighbour, Pim, said: “The first time, she just stood there until she left. The second time, she said she wanted to be his girlfriend.

“This time, she grabbed ‘P Ta. He’s blocked her everywhere, but she keeps making new accounts. She says she’s from Bangkok, but we don’t know much else.”

I need that bike, after all

Two teens who came off their motorcycles following the clash.

Police in Chon Buri are looking for an armed man who reneged on an agreement to hand over his motorcycle as collateral for a debt he owed.

A meeting to settle a debt in Bang Lamung district erupted into gunfire and a police chase that left officers injured, after the debtor attempted to snatch back the motorcycle he had just surrendered as collateral.

The incident took place near Soi Wat Boonsampan 9, when creditors met the suspect, identified only as “Bang Nueng,” to resolve a loan of 15,000 baht in cash and two mobile phones, worth about 20,000 baht.

Bang Nueng had agreed to hand over his motorcycle, with photos and a video clip taken to record the deal.

But shortly afterward, Bang Nueng parked his white Chevrolet sedan, pulled out a gun, and fired twice, hitting the creditors’ vehicle.

He ordered two younger associates to ride off on the motorcycle, then sped away in his car.

The creditors gave chase and alerted a nearby police patrol.

When officers on a motorcycle tried to intercept, Bang Nueng rammed their bike, sending it crashing and injuring two patrolmen. Rescue workers treated the officers before sending them to hospital.

About 1km away, the two teens linked to Bang Nueng were also found injured after their motorcycle crashed.

They told police they had been sent to deliver the bike, but fled when tensions escalated and were later assaulted during the chase.

Bang Lamung police have launched a manhunt for Bang Nueng, warning units that the suspect is armed and considered dangerous.

Pills kept in dark places

Pitak points to where he hid the pills.

A Bangkok couple who deal in drugs to top up their income as riders chose some unusual places to secret their wares.

The Metropolitan Police Division’s Crime Suppression Bureau and local police raided a dormitory in the Lad Prao area with officers targeting a group of three suspects.

The operation targeted Pitak (aka “Tak”), 29, from Bangkok; Patcharida (aka “Tan”), 32, from Saraburi; and Akkarawin (aka “Game”), 28, from Bangkok.

Police had been monitoring the group after noticing a rider who behaved oddly.

Instead of delivering food to customers, he would loiter near rubbish bins, discreetly retrieve items from his pants, and act furtively.

On Sept 22, officers observed Akkarawin in a rider’s uniform loitering near a rubbish bin, once again without delivering food.

They asked to search him but found nothing initially, until an officer noticed he had wedged a blue plastic bag into the heel of one shoe.

It contained ecstasy tablets. After that find, Akkarawin confessed and took officers back to his dorm.

Police found Pitak and his girlfriend Patcharida there, where a search revealed 20 grammes of crystal meth hidden in Pitak’s pants, along with additional drugs and packaging materials.

The couple were identified as high-level distributors in the area.

During the raid, several customers transferred money for drugs, unaware the dealers had been busted.

Pitak admitted: “I usually hide ice in my underwear. I don’t know if the customers notice.”

Police charged Pitak and Patcharida with possession of methamphetamine and ketamine with intent to sell, while Akkarawin was charged with possession and distribution of ecstasy for commercial purposes.

Officers are tracking down other members of the drug network.

Ex-hubby cops it; bong row; kindly granny; domestic bliss

One visit too many

Tiangsak points out where he killed his wife's ex-husband, Sarawut.

A love triangle in Udon Thani ended in tragedy when a man killed his wife’s ex-husband in a rubber plantation.

Sarawut “Bank” Taiwarin, 32, turned up at the plantation in Nam Som district armed with a knife while his ex-wife, Ranang, and her new husband Tiangsak “Joy” Kulsopha, 42, were working, the couple later told police.

Mr Tiangsak grabbed a hoe handle to defend himself and shouted for him to stop. Sarawut replied, “I’m not here to kill you — if I wanted to, I’d have done it long ago”.

Trying to avoid trouble, Mr Tiangsak said he and his wife walked away toward the village headman’s plantation.

But Sarawut followed on his motorbike, wielding a eucalyptus stick he had just cut from a nearby plot, and struck him four or five times. Mr Tiangsak told his wife to run into the village to seek help.

Cornered, he said he fought back with a bamboo tool handle, which snapped during the struggle. The men grappled until Sarawut fell, hitting his head hard on a rock.

Mr Tiangsak then tied the victim’s arms and legs with his shirt and later with wire used for latex cups, fearing the man would revive and attack again. Sarawut begged to be released but soon went limp.

After realising he was unresponsive, Mr Tiangsak took the victim’s motorbike to the village headman’s house to report the incident and later turned himself in. He insisted he never intended to kill his wife’s ex-husband.

Pol Lt Col Wichit Lachai, an investigator with Nam Som police, said officers called to the scene found Sarawut’s body lying on his back.

His hands were tied behind his back with a T-shirt that was also looped around his neck. His ankles were bound with wire and fabric. Police discovered severe bruising to his left temple, consistent with a blow from a hard object.

Officers seized a 1.5-metre-long hoe handle, a broken bamboo shaft from a digging tool and a 1.8-metre eucalyptus stick believed to have been used in the fight.

During questioning, Mr Tiangsak admitted responsibility.

The victim’s mother, Buariang Pimdee, 48, said her son and his ex-wife had lived together for two years but often argued and hit each other. After she left to live with Mr Tiangsak, tensions between the three never ceased.

“I never thought he would be killed like this,” she said, urging police to pursue the case to the full extent of the law.

Ranang, the widow caught in the middle, told reporters she and her new husband had been sitting in their plantation hut when her ex-husband arrived with a machete.

She said Mr Tiangsak tried to avoid the confrontation, but Sarawut chased them down and attacked.

She added that since their separation nearly a year ago, Sarawut often forced her into sex against her will, causing arguments with her new husband.

“I’ll wait for Tiangsak to finish his sentence. He’s always been good to me.”

An autopsy later determined Sarawut died from suffocation, though another report said it was from a blow to the head. Police charged Mr Tiangsak with murder.

Rehab fails to make impact

'Joe', who ran amok at home

An Udon Thani man who fled compulsory detox treatment at a local hospital returned home and demanded to know from his family: “Where’s my cannabis bong?”

Police were called to the house in Sam Phrao subdistrict after the 32-year-old man, unhappy to find his smoking apparatus had gone missing in his absence, and his withdrawal obviously not complete, went on the rampage.

Pol Sub-Lt Buncha Sarapanya, a deputy inspector at Muang station, received a complaint from Suksri (no surname given) 68, the suspect’s aunt.

She said her nephew, “Joe,” had escaped from rehab at Udon Thani Hospital, where he was being treated for methamphetamine and cannabis abuse, and had gone berserk at home, scaring his family.

At the scene, a single-storey concrete house, officers knocked on the door until Joe emerged looking bewildered, asking what the problem was.

When questioned about reports he had been throwing objects into the neighbours’ yard, he denied it, saying he had come back from hospital and was “just resting at home.”

Aunt Suksri told police that Joe had once been addicted to meth but had switched to cannabis and rice whisky.

When drunk or high, he often became violent. Relatives had tried to commit him for treatment before, but he refused to take his medication, leading to frequent psychotic episodes.

The previous day, Joe confronted his mother, Rasmee, 56, demanding to know: “Where’s my bong?” before threatening to kill her.

Terrified, she fled to stay with relatives. The following day he asked his aunt for a knife and hurled stones at her house.

“I’ve raised this nephew since he was a boy,” Aunt Suksri said. “I’ve always put up with it, but this time I really can’t take any more.”

Police placed Joe in custody and took him by pickup truck back to hospital for psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation.

The fake cops are here

Police gather outside the grandma's house.

An 83-year-old grandmother in Bangkok refused appeals from police at her front gate to stop transferring funds to a call-centre gang.

She believed she was talking to “real police” on the phone and the uniformed men at her gate were imposters.

The exchange was filmed by police as they gathered outside the house, with one officer complaining they had made multiple trips to her house but she still refused to listen.

She finally realised she was the victim of a scam after a family member intervened at the behest of police, but only the grandmother had transferred almost 5 million baht over five separate transactions.

The case first came to light when the Anti-Online Crime Operations Center (AOC 1441), under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, noticed suspicious withdrawals and alerted Phra Khanong police.

Officers visited her home to warn the old woman not to transfer any more money.

But despite their uniforms and ID, the woman dismissed them as impostors and kept taking calls from the fake “police” on her mobile phone.

Between Sept 3 and 10, she deposited or transferred money five times, a total of 4.95 million baht. Police later managed to freeze about 2.5 million before it disappeared into mule accounts.

When investigators finally persuaded her to cooperate, the woman, unnamed in news reports, explained she had been told by scammers that her identity was linked to money laundering and that only by transferring funds for “verification” could she clear her name.

The fraudsters impersonated a senior police colonel in Nakhon Sawan and even convinced her to add them on LINE for “official” instructions.

Pol Col Chaiwat Pradabthai, Phra Khanong police chief, admitted it took time to convince the grandmother she had been tricked.

“Even at the station, she still doubted us, until we sat down and explained carefully.”

Pol Col Phumiyot Lekkla, deputy commander of Metropolitan Police Division 5, said the AOC system was crucial for flagging the withdrawals quickly.

“It helps victims realise sooner that they’re being deceived, and allows us to freeze some funds before it’s too late.”

Inquiries are continuing into the grandmother’s missing money.

Now, where’s the dishrack

 Sanan, who let himself into a stranger's house.

A shirtless Udon Thani man wandered into a stranger’s home and did the dishes, which was nice of him, before wandering into the owner’s bedroom when he was stopped by neighbours who noticed something was amiss.

Muang police on Sept 15 arrived to find the 38-year-old man subdued by locals after he resisted their attempts to throw him out of the house.

They say he let himself into the house while the owner, a security guard, was away at work.

The man, wearing only shorts, and carrying a white backpack, slipped into a rented house in Nong Bua sub-district.

Instead of stealing anything, he started doing the housework.

He fetched water, watered the plants and even sat down to wash the dishes.

Neighbours quickly noticed something wasn’t right. They shouted, asking what on earth he was doing inside.

But the man mumbled incoherently, refused to leave and then walked into the bedroom where the homeowner’s wife and daughter were. Alarmed, neighbours grabbed a wooden stick, marched inside and managed to drag him back out.

By the time the homeowner arrived, the intruder had been pinned down, with neighbours filming everything for evidence.

The house belongs to 54-year-old Siwakorn (no surname given), who has rented the place with his wife and daughter for six years. He works nights as a security guard, while his wife is a homemaker.

He said he had just finished a night shift when he got a call from neighbours saying a strange man had entered his home. He came back in time to see the man already restrained. The visitor also damaged his pickup truck, smashing a taillight and denting the bodywork.

Police identified the intruder as Sanan, 38 (no surname given). At the station, his story made little sense: he claimed he had run away from his home in Ban Dung district and entered the house to look for his mother and fetch her water.

He insisted he meant no harm — he just “missed his mum”. Officers have charged him with breaking and entering and property damage.

Theft prank; evil eye; durian feast; errant monk

Jail sounds a better option

Staff chased Phakin after he walked out with a gold ring.

An Udon Thani man, frustrated with life, stole gold rings from two stores in succession, claiming he wanted to go to jail to “take a rest”.

Muang police on Thursday were notified of a man pretending to be a customer at a gold shop at a local shopping centre.

He tried on gold rings and walked out with them, but not before asking: “If I walk out without paying, will I be arrested?”

The suspect was identified as Phakin, or Tao (no surname given), 30, who admitted the thefts.

Duk (no surname given), an employee at the first gold shop, said the man asked to see a gold ring and asked, “If I walk out wearing it, will I be arrested? I want to go to jail”.

He boldly put on the ring and walked out.

Phakin, or Tao

News reports say he later returned the ring and went about his business, before repeating the prank at a shop nearby.

Nannaphat (no surname given), branch manager of the second shop, said the suspect asked to try on a two salueng gold ring (worth about 28,000 baht) and again asked if he would be arrested.

When she confirmed he would, he still walked out, prompting staff to chase him and retrieve the ring.

Tao, the suspect, said he staged the stunts because he wanted to go to jail.

His actions were motivated by personal problems: he felt resentful toward his mother for refusing to give him six rai of land despite being her only son.

He has a wife and young child and said he wanted to return to jail because he had previously served time for theft on behalf of a friend.

He also admitted to having methamphetamine debts and being a habitual user, taking 1–2 pills per day.

He apologised to his mother and wife for the prank and promised that if jailed, he would reform and behave himself upon release.

His wife, Arisa, 27, visited him at the station with their 3-year-old daughter.

She said her husband had been stressed and paranoid, even talking about robbery and suicide.

She was shocked to learn he had been using methamphetamine, previously thinking he was only drinking.

Tao said he was stressed by life problems and had experienced hallucinations, thinking someone wanted to kill him.

Urine tests returned positive for drugs. Authorities decided the suspect did not intend real theft or robbery, and no charges for theft were pressed. The victims did not press charges, either. He was, however, charged with taking drugs.

‘Why are you staring at me?’

Phunsawat, who died in front of a convenience store

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man who gunned down his uncle in Thon Buri after family tensions boiled over.

The suspect was nabbed at home where he fled soon after the shooting, though he took a detour to toss the murder weapon into the Chao Phraya River.

The victim, motorcycle taxi rider Phunsawat (no surname given), 45, was shot seven times and died in front of a convenience store in Chom Thong district on Sept 11.

 Chatchaorn.

The gunman was identified as his nephew, Chatchaporn, or Toon (no surname given), son of the victim’s sister.

Relatives from both sides had long been embroiled in inheritance disputes, creating years of family tensions.

Metropolitan Police Division 8 and Bukkhalo police nabbed Chatchaporn at his home in the Wat Bang Sakae Nai community, off soi Thoet Thai 33.

Chatchaporn admitted shooting his uncle with a 9mm pistol, which he claimed to have thrown into the river near Rama V Bridge.

Phunsawat was shot in the left shoulder, right cheek and chest. Seven 9mm cartridge casings were recovered.

A witness, Rattanachai Phutsiri, who also worked at the motorcycle taxi stand, said he was riding close behind the victim when they encountered the suspect, Chatchaporn, a hospital orderly.

Chatchaporn was evidently giving his uncle the evil eye. The victim asked him, “Why are you staring at me?”

Chatchaporn rode off, and returned armed with a pistol.

The two began trading punches. “Toon (Chatchaporn) was losing the fight since his uncle was bigger, so I tried to break them up,” Mr Rattanachai said. “Then Toon pulled a gun from his waistband and fired repeatedly, dropping his uncle to the ground.

“He turned the weapon on me, but the gun misfired. Then he shot his uncle three more times before fleeing,” he added.

Police said the two families had long been estranged over inheritance disputes, refusing to even look at one another. The most recent quarrel erupted after Chatchaporn’s dog ran in front of the victim’s wife’s motorcycle.

Chatchaporn was charged with murder.

Stinking out the place

Jirawat, nabbed with his stolen durian

A Nonthaburi man chose a large 7kg durian to steal from a local vendor, but had made his way through barely half of it when police — hot on the scent of the trail — nabbed him.

Police in Pak Kret caught Jirawat, or Poo (no surname given), 48, in his rented room after he stole the Musang King durian from a local vendor.

He had eaten half of it when police knocked on his door.

Durian shop owner, Narin (no surname given), 60, noticed his prized durian — worth about 1,100 baht — missing on Sept 7 and reviewed CCTV footage.

The camera showed the suspect riding a bicycle past the shop, parking and casually walking across the street to grab the durian before pedalling off.

“When it happened, he stopped and pretended to wait, then grabbed the durian while people were nearby,” said Narin.

“I didn’t realise at first because I was busy with customers. Ten minutes later, it was gone. If he had just asked, I would have gladly given him some — no need to steal.”

Jirawat admitted he hadn’t planned the theft in advance.

“I rode past, saw the durian and suddenly really wanted some. I didn’t dare ask the owner, so I just took it. I peeled it and ate half, but I hadn’t finished when the police came,” he said, apologising to the shop owner.

Police recovered the remaining half of the durian and the bicycle used in the theft. They charged Jirawat with “nighttime theft using a vehicle to facilitate crime”.

Monk strays from brief

Phra Kiattisak, below left, and the car he drove when he hit the old woman.

A monk in Buri Ram who was unlicensed to drive struck and killed a pensioner returning from collecting her senior citizen allowance of 700 baht.

Phra Kiattisak Kamhom, 24, was driving a temple car when he hit Khiew Phutjip, 72, causing her immediate death.

The accident, which took place on Sept 10 on Nalao–Huafai Road, in Khaen Dong district, raised questions among the victim’s relatives.

The car driven by Phra Kiattisak had no annual tax, no compulsory motor insurance (Buri Ram ), and the monk himself did not have a driver’s licence.

Sao Pawatha, Khiew’s younger brother, said monks are not supposed to drive, but this one bent the rules.

If travel is necessary, a disciple or a licensed local is supposed to drive instead. Another relative, Boonmak Tubtaisong, was also shocked by the news, as she usually accompanied Khiew to collect her allowance.

The monk’s mother, Boonruang Boonying, visited the victim’s family and accepted full responsibility, saying she would compensate them as much as possible given her family’s limited means.

She said the car involved belonged to the temple and was purchased for disciples to travel to school. Her son drove the car himself because there were no public transport options in the area.

Ms Boonruang viewed the incident as a matter of “karma” and the consequences of past deeds, but she also expressed sympathy for her son, who had sought refuge from drug problems.

He had chosen to ordain as a monk to study the Buddhist path, only to be caught in the road tragedy.