Lottery vendor caught trying to steal from 80-year-old at Chiang Mai market

A lottery vendor was caught red-handed trying to steal from an 80-year-old woman at a market in San Sai district, Chiang Mai yesterday, February 15. Residents detained him before police had to step in to rescue him from an increasingly angry crowd.

Mae Faek Police Station received the theft report and responded to what was becoming a volatile situation. The vendor had allegedly targeted the elderly woman at the local market — though the original report doesn't specify what exactly he tried to steal or how much was involved.

Here's the thing about markets in Thailand: vendors and locals look out for each other. When someone tries to prey on elderly customers, especially an 80-year-old woman, the community response is swift. This vendor found that out the hard way when market-goers basically did the police's job for them.

The police ended up having to rescue the vendor from the crowd rather than chase him down themselves. That tells you how pissed off people were about this.

What this means for travelers

Markets in Chiang Mai are generally safe, and this incident actually shows why — the community polices itself pretty effectively. But it's worth noting a few things:

Lottery vendors are everywhere in Thai markets and on streets. The vast majority are legitimate, but like any cash business, there are bad actors. This appears to be one vendor who thought he could take advantage of an elderly customer.

San Sai district is about 20 minutes north of central Chiang Mai. It's not a major tourist area, so this was likely targeting a local rather than visitors. Still, the same community protection tends to extend to tourists at markets.

For what it's worth, Thai lottery tickets are legal and regulated. Real vendors have proper licenses and tickets with official markings. If you're curious about trying the lottery (tickets are ฿80 each, about $2.30), stick to vendors at established markets or the ones you see everywhere in Bangkok and tourist areas.

The police haven't released details about charges or what exactly the vendor attempted to steal. The focus seems to have been on getting him away from the crowd safely rather than the specifics of the theft.

Markets in Thailand are still some of the safest places to shop and eat. This incident is notable precisely because it's unusual — when something like this happens, the whole community gets involved.

Source: The Thaiger

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Source: Lottery vendor caught after attempted theft at Chiang Mai market