PHUKET: A contrast in fortunes came on Phuket today after two thefts, one in which goods valued at two million baht were taken, and the other in which a can of soft drink was stolen.

The thefts involve two women.

One woman probably does not want to go to Phuket Prison but almost certainly will. The other woman? She wants to go to jail. And she probably will.

Jutapit Raman, 47, walked into a 7-Eleven store in Sai Yuan Road, Rawai, today. She marched straight to the refrigerator, selected a can of soft drink, and put it in her bag.

Apprehended when she did not pay before leaving, Khun Jutapit told police at Chalong, in southern Phuket: ''I want to go to jail.''

She has no money, she says. Her rebellious adopted daughter, now a teenager, went off with the family motorcyce and what little cash Khun Jutapit had left.

''Put me in jail,'' she told police.

Yupa Waiyasit, a little older at 58, is extremely well off by comparison. She went to police in Patong yesterday about 3pm after her home was raided by thieves.

Gone was 200,000 baht in cash and jewellery worth about two million baht.

Looking for likely culprits, she suggested a young Burmese, Wandee, who had worked for her as a cleaner and cook until three month ago.

When police went to Wandee's apartment off Rat U Tit 200 Pi Road in Patong, they found most of the stolen goods. She had already pawned some, and confessed today.

Police expect both women will be sent to Phuket Prison.