Yupha Waiyasit, 58, restaurant owner on Nanai Rd, Patong, reported to police on May 21 that her house had been burgled. She suspected the robber was a 37-year-old Burmese woman, Wandee, who had worked with her until five months previously.
Police found Wandee the following day at the guest house where she lived in Soi Patong Whisky.
A search of her room turned up a gold ring, five pairs of earrings with diamonds or other gems, five gold amulets, three watches, two diamond rings and B392,800 in cash.
Wandee confessed that the money had come from the sale of other stolen jewellery, including a diamond necklace valued at more than a quarter of a million baht.
Police said that Wandee had climbed over a wall into Ms Yupha’s back yard then simply walked into the unlocked house while its owner was working in her restaurant at the front.
All the stolen items – including those that had been sold – have been recovered and returned to Ms Yupha.