(EDINBURGH) -- The Bangkok ``Ladyboys'' are beset by breast problems. First their silicone implants hardened in the chilly Scottish climate and now a fetishist has stolen a pair of conical fake breasts.

``It could be the ultimate compliment from a fan -- stealing a bra. How close do you want to be?'' said Tony Wilkie-Miller, spokesman for the transvestite cabaret that is one of the big hits at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

``They are size 38DD. We don't do anything by halves. These fake breasts are used by Ladyboys who have not yet had breast implants. Either they are on hormones that have not kicked in or are saving up for the operation,'' he told Reuters.

The thief broke into the circus compound where the female impersonators are performing in an Edinburgh park and stole the bras along with two wigs, two pairs of black tights and a pair of shoes.

``Because the Ladyboys are men, their feet are broader. They look like a bloke's shoes with high heels. If you want to spot a Ladyboy in a crowd, look at the feet. That is one part that cannot be surgically altered,'' he said.

In all their appearances around the world from Tokyo to Dublin, this has never happened to the cabaret stars before.

``They are very, very bemused by this. At first they were angry. Now they are treating it as a kinky joke,'' Wilkie-Miller said.

He had three theories about the theft -- it could have been a practical joker, a determined souvenir hunter or ``it is someone with a kinky fetish.''

A spokesman for Scottish police, dealing with one of the most unusual burglaries they have ever had to handle, said: ''The items were valued at around 800 pounds ($1,133) but I doubt if there is much market for this sort of thing.''

Security has now been tightened backstage for the ''Ladyboys,'' whose tour had already become frontpage news back in Bangkok when they revealed that the Edinburgh weather was playing havoc with their breast implants.

Leading cabaret star Tor Athapon complained that his finest assets ``became hard in the cold weather. I had to massage them back into shape.''

One in four members of the 20-strong troupe is a transsexual. Tor Athapon is now planning to take the biggest step of all.

After touring the globe with the ``Ladyboys'' show, he has saved up enough money to have a sex change operation when he returns to Bangkok.

But doesn't the thought of the six-hour operation scare him? ``I am not worried about pain. I want to be a woman so much,'' he said.