Bangkok: Police at Phra Ratchawang Police Station arrested a Vietnamese woman who took advantage of the Songkran festival to slash bags and steal money from people who made merit at the temple.

According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Palace Police arrested Ms. Thi Cham, a 42-year-old Vietnamese national, as a suspect with an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court for theft by disguising herself in a public worship area. The evidence included the clothes she wore during the crime, a mobile phone, foreign banknotes including US dollars, Indonesian rupiah, Malaysian ringgit, and some Vietnamese dong, four rolls of foil, three wallets, three pieces of cloth used to cover her shoulders, a box cutter, and a razor blade. The arrest was made in a hotel room in Soi Rang Nam, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, and then in an apartment room in Soi Lat Phrao 134, Bang Kapi District, on April 12 at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Following the report of a 56-year-old victim, who discovered her shoulder bag had been slashed while visiting a temple in the Tha Tien area, the investigation team at Phra Ratchawang Police Station collected evidence and reviewed CCTV footage from the area. The footage captured the faces and behaviors of two suspects, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants for both individuals.

Ms. Thi Cham, who could speak and understand Thai, admitted to being the person in the arrest warrant. She revealed that the other perpetrator was a fellow national she met at Pratunam. After the incident, they parted ways, and she did not know the whereabouts of the other suspect. She kept the belongings used in the crime in her apartment room on Soi Lat Phrao 134. A search of the room uncovered all the evidence, which was collected before being sent to Phra Ratchawang Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities are continuing efforts to track down the remaining suspect for legal action.