Thai police hunt 2 Korean women accused of stealing swimwear in Phuket
Thai media outlet The Thaiger reports on two South Korean women wanted for swimwear theft in Phuket, Thailand. Captured from The Thaiger
Police in Thailand are hunting for two women, believed to be South Korean nationals, accused of stealing high-end swimwear from a shop in Phuket.
The incident, captured on CCTV, has sparked criticism online, with some observers labeling it a "national disgrace."
According to local media outlet The Thaiger on Tuesday, the theft occurred at a swimwear store in the popular resort town on Monday. The shop owner reported the incident to police and posted security footage on social media, appealing for help in identifying the suspects.
Two women suspected of being South Korean nationals steal swimwear from a shop in Phuket, Thailand, Monday. Captured from The Thaiger's Facebook
The footage shows the pair entering the store around 12:28 p.m. They behaved like ordinary tourists, trying on several items and asking about prices before leaving without a purchase.
However, they returned about 30 minutes later. While one woman distracted the clerk by asking for help with a fitting, the other snatched swimwear from a basket under a display and hid it in her bag. They then left the store calmly.
The CCTV footage clearly captured audio of the women speaking Korean during the theft, with one asking, "Do you like it?"
One of two women suspected of being South Korean nationals puts swimwear from a shop into her bag in Phuket, Thailand, Monday. Captured from The Thaiger's Facebook
Staff later noticed the missing items and confirmed the theft through the video recording.
"When the women first visited, I brought additional products from the warehouse so they could try on various sizes," a store employee said. "It seems they checked the location of the inventory at that time and stole it easily."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.