South Korean tourist 'robbed by alleged pickpocket ladyboy gang' in Thailand
A South Korean tourist was allegedly robbed by pickpocketing ladyboys in a party resort in Thailand.
The 38-year-old visitor was strolling through the infamous Walking Street nightlife district in Pattaya when he was approached by a transgender worker, in the early hours of June 3.
Onlookers began filming as the male-to-female crossdresser suddenly struck up a conversation in the middle of the street.
Footage shows the ladyboy hugging and touching the tourist from behind, while her hands drift toward his trouser pockets.
Moments later, another sex worker approached to flirt with the flustered Korean man, allegedly distracting him while her accomplice fished a Gucci wallet from his pocket.
She appeared to plant a kiss on the tourist's cheeks before the pair vanished into the crowd with the wallet containing 10,000 baht in cash, an identification card, and a room key.
The tourist later found he had been robbed as his pocket felt suspiciously lighter. He later filed a complaint with officers at Pattaya City Police Station.
A concerned local who witnessed the incident sent video footage to help officers crack down on pickpocket gangs operating in the city.
Police said they were reviewing CCTV footage to track down the suspects.
The alleged theft occurred shortly after a tourist police assistance point on Walking Street had ceased operations for the night.
Authorities said the area is normally patrolled cops between 8 pm and 4 am, but officers gradually withdraw once their shift ends.
They believe the gang may have chosen to strike once police presence was reduced, while thousands of tourists were still crowding the street.
The depraved resort town, notorious for its racy nightlife, has long grappled with petty crime involving opportunistic sex workers targeting foreign tourists.
Tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading Pattaya to be dubbed 'Sin City'.
Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.
Authorities have also introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV.
Despite some success in cleaning up the town's image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.
