©Morten Jakob Pedersen via Unsplash
In Lopburi, Thailand, a woman saw her savings disappear in a very unfortunate way. It wasn’t the work of thieves, but of hungry termites. Nanny Irin kept nearly 26,000 euros, or about one million baht, in a safe at home to keep her money secure, but later discovered that some of the banknotes had been eaten away.
According to the woman, she noticed the problem when she opened her safe on July 13. In a Facebook post, she described how the insects had literally eaten away at the money, rendering many bills unusable. She says she thought a safe offered protection against theft, but not against termites. The damage appears to be significant, though she won’t lose all her money. After contacting the bank, she was told that some of the damaged bills can be replaced. Bills that are still sufficiently intact can be exchanged, but those that have been completely eaten by the termites are no longer eligible for reimbursement.
Keeping cash at home
The incident has caused quite a stir in Thailand, as it highlights that keeping money at home also carries unexpected risks. Nanny Irin had just put her savings in a sturdy safe as a precaution against burglary, but the safe apparently wasn’t a match for an infestation of wood-eating insects. The woman shared on social media that the discovery was a heavy blow, especially since it involved a substantial amount she had saved with great effort. Her story also brings to mind similar incidents in Thailand, where banknotes have previously been damaged by termites. The bank is now investigating which bills can still be reimbursed. For Nanny Irin, the lesson is clear: a safe keeps burglars out, but not always nature.
©Morten Jakob Pedersen via Unsplash - illustrative image of termites.