Police said the incident was reported on Monday (Jan 26), when a Russian woman told officers that her wallet had gone missing while she was waiting for medical treatment at Chalong Hospital.
According to Chalong Police, the woman had placed her bag on a nearby seat while waiting to be seen. A suspect later took the bag without the woman noticing.
The stolen property included 2,000 Swiss francs and 1,000 euros, with a combined value of about B120,000.
Investigators from Chalong Police Station tracked the suspect over the following three days and eventually identified her location at a house in Moo 7, Rawai.
Police said the suspect, a Thai woman whom they named only as ‘Ms Namfon’, admitted to stealing the wallet at the hospital. During a search of the house, officers recovered the foreign currency hidden under a water container in the bathroom.
Ms Namfon was arrested and taken to Chalong Police Station for legal proceedings. The recovered cash was confiscated as evidence and later returned to the victim, Chalong Police confirmed.
Chalong Police reminded the public, particularly tourists, to remain vigilant and avoid leaving valuables unattended in public places, including hospitals, warning that thieves may take advantage of moments of distraction.