Stolen record collection: Thai carer bailed

Thai carer released on bail as Swiss expat hopes stolen record collection will be returned

A Thai carer arrested over the stolen record collection of a bedridden Swiss expat in Hua Hin has been released on bail, while the victim says he is hopeful most of his records will be returned.

Peter Kalt told Hua Hin Today on Thursday, 11 June, that police had arrested the woman, known as Aoi, at an address in Hua Hin after his lawyer followed up on the case.

Peter said he contacted his lawyer after becoming concerned about what he believed was a lack of progress following the theft of his 30-year record collection from his home in Hin Lek Fai.

The collection, which includes around 1,000 vinyl records and 400 CDs, is estimated by Peter to be worth around 300,000 Swiss francs, or approximately 12.5 million baht.

Peter said police found Line messages showing the woman trying to sell the records. He said officers also found post office receipts showing packages of various weights, including 15kg, 20kg and 28kg, had been sent.

According to Peter, the records were sold for 60,000 baht, far below their estimated value.

He said the woman is currently out on bail, cannot leave Hua Hin and must report to Hua Hin Police Station every other day.

Records sent to Korat collector

Peter said police have traced the records to a collector in Korat, who has cooperated with officers and is expected to travel to Hua Hin on 28 June with the collection.

Peter said he hopes to recover around 90 percent of the stolen record collection, but will not know exactly what has been returned until he can check it against his catalogue.

“I am optimistic that the outcome will be positive,” Peter said.

However, he said the episode had left him deeply unsettled.

“You let someone into your house to take care of you, and then something like this happens,” he said.

Peter said the records have huge sentimental value, beyond their monetary worth. Rare items in the collection include a limited edition Elvis record and a Scorpions record with a sleeve that was later banned and is now considered highly collectable.

Pool table allegedly sold

Peter also told Hua Hin Today about a separate incident involving the same woman.

He said he and his wife, Brigit, had previously discussed selling a pool table they no longer used, which he estimated was worth about 140,000 baht.

Peter said a Thai man later arrived at the house saying he had bought the table from Aoi for 10,000 baht and had come to collect it.

The man told Peter’s wife he had transferred the money to Aoi. Peter said the woman then disappeared with the money and the man also reported the matter to police.

Peter said he expects Aoi to be jailed over what he described as a long list of alleged thefts and deceptions.

The original theft is understood to have taken place on 2 May 2026 at the Hin Lek Fai home Peter shares with Brigit. It was reported to police on 5 May, after Brigit realised the records were missing.

Peter, who has lived in Thailand for 11 years, is bedridden after complications from a medical condition left him unable to use his legs. He said he still hopes to return to Switzerland at the end of the year for specialist treatment.

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