A seller of vintage goods faced a troubling incident when a thief posing as a courier retrieved a package containing two Rolex watches valued at 615,000 baht. Despite reporting the crime to the police three times, the case was dismissed as a civil matter, offering no recourse for the victim.
The 36-year-old victim, Sarayout Thongyot, shared his experience, which began on the evening of November 27. Sarayout had sent the package from a distribution center on Ratchaphruek Road in Nonthaburi. At around 5:50 p.m., CCTV footage captured a man in a green long-sleeved shirt arriving on a red motorcycle. The same individual, now wearing a full-face rider’s helmet, entered the courier center, presented a mobile phone displaying a tracking slip, and requested the cancellation of the shipment.
By 5:55 p.m., CCTV showed the thief leaving with the package, placing it between his legs on the motorcycle as he prepared to flee. Meanwhile, Sarayout was waiting nearby, expecting a bank transfer from the buyer, identified as Natthaphon from Chiang Rai. The watches had been listed on a trading platform, and the buyer had contacted Sarayout at around 5 p.m., agreeing to purchase the watches for 615,000 baht. The buyer instructed Sarayout to wait for a confirmation of the money transfer before proceeding.
Sarayout waited for 15 minutes before checking with the courier, only to discover that the package had already been picked up. He questioned the courier’s procedures, as canceling a shipment typically requires the original slip and the sender’s ID.
Frustrated, Sarayout also expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the case. Despite providing CCTV evidence and visiting the police station multiple times, he was told that the issue was not criminal. The courier company also refused to take responsibility, suggesting Sarayout may have been attempting fraud by sending an empty box.
Though Sarayout has accepted the financial loss, he hopes that the police will show more interest in the case, given the substantial amount involved. He admitted that he might have to consider the money lost but plans to donate any recovered funds to charity. Preliminary investigations revealed that the complaint documents had been filed for record-keeping purposes, not for legal action. Sarayout’s friend, a police officer, helped trace the suspect’s phone number, which remains active but unanswered. The number is registered under a foreign name, according to KhaoSod. photo KhaoSod
