Phuket Woman Arrested for Allegedly Pawning Rental Cars Online

A 31-year-old woman has been arrested in Phuket for allegedly using rented vehicles as collateral to obtain money through online car-pawning services.

Police said she obtained around 300,000 baht from two rental vehicles taken in Phuket and Bangkok before both companies eventually recovered their cars.

Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the suspect at a condominium car park in Kathu district on September 22.

The woman, identified only as 31-year-old Radawarin, was wanted under two arrest warrants. One was issued by Phuket Provincial Court on July 16, while the second came from North Bangkok District Court on July 1.

The warrants concern allegations of theft committed jointly by two or more people and joint document forgery.

According to investigators, Radawarin contacted vehicle rental companies through online platforms and completed standard rental procedures, including signing agreements and paying the required deposits.

Police allege that after taking possession of the vehicles, she used online car-pawning services to obtain cash without the owners’ knowledge or permission.

Investigators identified at least two cases involving rental companies in Phuket and Bangkok. The two vehicles were allegedly used to secure a combined amount of approximately 300,000 baht.

Both rental companies eventually located and recovered their vehicles. Police, however, continued investigating and searching for the suspect. Their inquiries eventually led officers to a condominium in Kathu, where Radawarin was arrested.

During questioning, she reportedly confessed to the allegations and said she had been facing serious financial difficulties.

According to police, Radawarin told investigators that she intended to use the money from the vehicles to address her cash-flow problems but was unable to redeem either car before the agreed deadlines.

After her arrest, Crime Suppression Division officers transferred her to investigators at Thalang Police Station for further legal proceedings.