Thief raids empty Phuket luxury home, steals

Police are hunting for a thief who broke into a luxury home in Kathu, Phuket, and stole 40 baht-weight of gold (about 600 grammes) and more than 3 million baht while the homeowner was overseas. The break-in was reported yesterday, June 8, by 54 year old Somsak, who told Kathu police that someone had forced their way into the house and stolen a large amount of valuables. Somsak is the younger brother of the homeowner, who is living abroad. He had been looking after the property while his brother was away. He told police he normally visited the house once a week to check on it. Yesterday, he went there to clean the property and noticed signs that the house had been broken into. After checking inside, Somsak found that several valuables stored in a wardrobe drawer were missing. The stolen items included gold bars weighing a total of 33 baht-weight (about 495 grammes) and gold jewellery weighing a total of 7 baht-weight (about 105 grammes). More than 2 million baht in Thai cash was missing, along with euros valued at more than 1 million baht. Officers from Kathu Police Station found signs of forced entry at the property. Forensic police collected latent fingerprints and other evidence from the scene for examination. They are now checking nearby CCTV footage and reviewing routes into and out of the village for clues. Initial findings suggest the thief may have targeted the house because it had been left unoccupied for a long period. Khaosod reported that police are working to identify the suspect and take legal action. Under Thai law, theft involving forced entry into a dwelling may fall under Section 335 of the Criminal Code, which covers aggravated theft. The offence carries a penalty of one to five years in prison and a fine of 20,000 to 100,000 baht. Penalties may increase to up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 140,000 baht if multiple aggravating factors apply. This incident highlights the importance of securing luxury homes in Phuket, especially when left unoccupied for extended periods. Phuket buyers should consider investing in home security systems.

Why it matters for Phuket buyers

A break-in at an empty house while the owner was abroad is the specific risk profile of a Phuket second home, and it is worth designing against rather than insuring against alone.

An unoccupied villa signals its own emptiness: an uncut garden, an unemptied postbox, no lights, no vehicle, no pool service. The countermeasures are ordinary and effective. Keep the pool and garden serviced on a visible schedule whether or not you are there. Put lighting on timers. Have someone check the property weekly and vary when they come. Keep nothing in the house you would mind losing: gold and cash in particular belong in a bank, not in a bedroom.

Ask the specific security questions when you buy, because they differ enormously between schemes. Is there a manned gate, and is it manned at four in the morning as well as at four in the afternoon? Is there CCTV, who reviews it, and how long is footage retained? Is the perimeter continuous or is there a service lane behind the plot? In an estate, is security funded from the common charge or contracted separately?

Then read your insurance. Many policies reduce or exclude cover for a property left unoccupied beyond a stated period, often thirty or sixty days, which is exactly the situation a second home is in.

Source: The Thaiger