A gang of transgender women has been arrested for a string of more than 100 burglaries at a military camp in Thailand, after it was discovered that several had boyfriends working at the facility.

The Bangkok Post reported that the four-member gang had broken into soldiers’ homes and other army buildings at a rate of one or two a week, with the proceeds feeding their methamphetamine habits.

The thieves were arrested after a group of soldiers alerted Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division, apparently frustrated by delays in the local police investigation.

It is alleged that the thieves had developed a unique calling card, defecating at the scene of each robbery in the mistaken belief that the smell of human excrement would cover over forensic evidence.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 35, were arrested last week after investigators focused their enquiries on retailers believed to be on-selling the stolen goods.

Police raided a house in Lopburi’s Muang district where they believed the gang was preparing their next robbery, seizing a range of goods including watches, mobile phones, jewellery and computers.

Leader of the investigation team Lieutenant Colonel Towong Phithakkoson said the gang were familiar with military properties because several of them had boyfriends in the army.