A woman forced out of work by the coronavirus crisis has been arrested and charged with stealing money she said she desperately needed to feed her hungry baby.
Ban Ped police apprehended Aphaporn Kerdtruat, 25, at her rented room in Muang district on Wednesday and charged her with the theft of 1,000 baht on Sunday.
Ms Aphaporn told investigators she was a hairdresser and was unemployed because the beauty salon was closed by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Pol Lt Col Theethach Pongsuwan, deputy chief of Ban Ped police. .
Ms Aphaporn said she took her year-old baby with her on a motorcycle to buy milk on Sunday.
She had only 120 baht left. She told police she saw a wallet in a small compartment at the front of a motorcycle parked outside the shop, and she stole it because she was desperate for money to feed her child.
Ms Aphaporn said she kept only the money and tossed the wallet into a nearby garbage bin.
The owner of the motorcycle later registered a complaint at Ban Ped police station.
A surveillance camera recorded Ms Aphaporn, her motorcycle and registration plate. Police went to the registered address and found it parked outside her room.
