ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the 1,644 cases of theft, the largest number of incidents/accidents selected in this study. In contrast to the traffic accidents or occurrences of troubles, the number of thefts in the region accounted for about 60% of the total, exceeding the number in Bangkok. Another characteristic of this type of offence was that the majority of the cases were caused by Thai personnel. The number of thefts was comparatively low at the start of the war, but it skyrocketed toward the end; the share of thefts after October 1944 was about 60% of the total. Wire was the most frequently stolen items, followed by fiber, vehicles, and metal goods. It is notable that the wire thefts occurred frequently in Nakhon Pathom and Samut Prakan. The skyrocketing of thefts could be attributed to not only the severe shortage of goods but also the loose security of the Japanese, the “circulation” of the stolen goods, the increase in the release of suspects, and the feelings of dissatisfaction toward the Japanese army.
