Khon Kaen — A 63-year-old grandmother wept while hospitalized after a thief stealthily stole her bag containing her last valuables, including a gold necklace and over 300,000 baht in cash, and escaped without a trace. The Chief of Khao Suan Kwang Police Station confirmed they are not neglecting the case. Police continue to investigate, finding the suspect committed similar crimes at other hospitals. He is believed to travel by public transport, moving from place to place. Authorities advise patients to entrust valuables to hospital staff if staying overnight.
At 10:00 a.m. on 16 July 2026, a reporter received a complaint from Mrs. Sompong Sriwiwat, 63, from Khao Suan Kwang District, Khon Kaen Province, who requested media follow-up on her case. A thief stole her shoulder bag containing a 2-baht gold necklace with a Luang Pu Ngern amulet set in gold, valued at about 1,000 baht; a 2-baht gold bracelet worth about 150,000 baht; 25,000 baht in cash; and one mobile phone.
The theft occurred in the inpatient room of Khao Suan Kwang Hospital around 4:00 a.m. on 3 March 2026. She reported it to the police but no progress has been made.
The reporter met Mrs. Sompong, who tearfully revealed that before the incident, she had returned from her brother’s funeral and was resting at home when she experienced chest tightness. She has asthma and high blood pressure and was having difficulty breathing. She called her husband and emergency services, who took her to Khao Suan Kwang Hospital. Doctors prescribed medication and advised her to stay hospitalized for 3-4 days. She stayed in the hospital while her husband rested on the balcony outside her room. The shoulder bag she carried contained her last valuables: gold necklace, gold bracelet, and cash. She placed the bag on a metal cabinet next to her bed.
Around midnight on 2 July 2026, after the doctor gave her medication, she fell asleep. She woke at 4 a.m. on 3 July, when cleaning staff were working in the room, and found her shoulder bag missing from the cabinet beside her bed. She shouted that her bag was gone and called the police. The bag contained many valuables.
When police arrived, they inspected the scene and found about three surveillance cameras in the inpatient room, each recording the suspect's actions. However, the footage did not show the suspect’s face. Mrs. Sompong asked the Region 4 Provincial Police Commander to order detectives to investigate and apprehend the thief, as the stolen money and valuables were her last possessions. She hopes the suspect will be caught soon to prevent further distress to others.
Police Colonel Peeranut Ngamlert Rattana Chai, Chief of Khao Suan Kwang Police Station, told reporters that after officers inspected the scene and questioned hospital staff and patients in the room, no one witnessed the theft. Reviewing hospital surveillance footage showed a slim man about 170 cm tall, aged 40-50, entering the room and inspecting beds before taking Mrs. Sompong’s shoulder bag from the cabinet by her bed.
Further surveillance outside the hospital showed the suspect abandoning the bag in a drainage ditch on hospital grounds before leaving towards Mittraphap Road. The bag contained only Mrs. Sompong’s mobile phone; all other valuables were taken. The bag and phone were returned to the victim.
Regarding the investigation and suspect interrogations, police have not neglected the case. They questioned hospital staff who wore shoes matching those of the suspect but found no suspicious behavior and released them. Police have also coordinated with Khon Kaen Provincial Investigation and Region 4 police to continue searching for the suspect.
Police investigations revealed that similar thefts occurred in patient rooms at Non Sa-at Hospital on 2 July 2026 and Boontrik Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani on 22 February 2026. The suspect’s methods and behavior were similar in all three cases. Although not confirmed as the same person, it is believed the thief travels between provinces by public transport, then proceeds on foot into hospitals to observe before committing thefts.
The Chief of Khao Suan Kwang Police Station emphasized that police are not complacent and continue investigating. However, initial evidence does not clearly show the suspect’s face or provide grounds to accuse or arrest any suspect. He urged the victim to trust police efforts to apprehend and prosecute the thief under the law.
He also advised the public hospitalized to report any valuables they bring to hospital staff or local police so they can be safely stored.