Police Help Elderly Woman After Bank Visit Yields Only Handful of Baht
Police rescued a 76-year-old woman who traveled 20 kilometers to a bank in Sisaket only to find her accounts emptied and closed, leaving her stranded with no money for the return home.
At 2 p.m. on July 31, 2025, Mueang Sisaket police received a report from a concerned citizen about an elderly woman at a bank branch on Thepha Road in Mueang Sisaket District, Sisaket Province, who was attempting to withdraw money. Officers discovered the woman, 76-year-old Thong Muang, sitting near an ATM with a betel nut basket, personal belongings, and documents neatly wrapped and tucked under her arm. She had traveled from Mak Khiap Subdistrict, roughly 20 kilometers away.
Upon inspection, police found three bank passbooks showing account activity only during 2566, with current balances totaling mere tens of baht in interest alone. Thong Muang explained she had come to withdraw money for expenses but found nothing as expected. A village headman had previously informed her that someone had withdrawn all her funds. Several of her accounts had been closed.
Nangchudatip, a 47-year-old citizen who witnessed the situation, became concerned when she learned Thong Muang had no relatives to pick her up and no money for the return journey home. Fearing the elderly woman would attempt the long trek alone and risk harm, she contacted police for assistance.
Lieutenant Bunluean of Mueang Sisaket Police noted he has known Thong Muang for years. She regularly visits banks, police stations, and various agencies inquiring about her accounts and missing funds. She travels approximately 20 kilometers from home, visiting multiple institutions in search of answers. Her memory appears intermittent, causing confusion about her finances. Police provided immediate assistance and prioritized her safety. "If she has relatives or family members, we urge them to provide close support," Bunluean appealed. "At her age, traveling alone from home over such distances to track down financial matters poses serious risks and potential danger."