Beware when you go Banana for massage

[Guest steve888sg]

I went to banana this afternoon and my money was stolen by the massuer. There are 2 set of keys to the locker and i was given one. While I was in the massage room, the massuer excusing himself claiming to get a drink for me. Shortly after he left, I heard noises from the locker area. I went out to check and realised the massuer was at my locker. My locker was open. I spoke to the manager and he did nothing but act surprise. I got mad and left the place as I can't do a nothing since I can't speak thai. I found out about $3000batt was missing from my wallet. Beware guys

[TomNg]

Why does boy have a key for your locker unless he and you are sharing the same locker, which I doubt it ? Can anyone confirm that they hand out 2 sets of keys, one for you and one for boy, for the same locker??

[anddy]

getting mad doesn't help,  why did you not insist on calling the police or call the tourist police yourself? That may have changed their mind into admitting wrongdoing and returning your money. 

[ct2005]

The management will definitely keep another set of locker keys just in case the client lost or misplaced it. Ideally, this set of spare keys should only be accessible by the manager/captain. Somehow ... The boy got his hands on it?

[TMax]

Man that sucks, was planning on going there in a couple of weeks so may have to look at a way to secure the money just in case. I am quite certain though, that it is an isolated incident. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened if you had threatened (in a polite way) to call in the tourist police, most likely nothing. Even at the massage places with the shower seperate to the room I have never had any issues with theft but am always aware that it may happen at some time.

[TMax]

Why does boy have a key for your locker unless he and you are sharing the same locker, which I doubt it ? Can anyone confirm that they hand out 2 sets of keys, one for you and one for boy, for the same locker??

I would say one key for the customer and management would hold a spare key in case the customer lost theirs, I would say in this case the boy got hold of the spare key somehow

[vinapu]

That surprising since this is very well run place but best way to avoid this type of surprises is to carry only as much as needed   /   ( but this means you need to leave money in your hotel room and may create another set of problems ),I never had this sort of trouble though

[DivineMadman]

Wow.  Sorry to hear about your bad experience and especially sorry to hear that the manager's response was not helpful.  If he has control of the extra locker key then he should be responsible if anyone gets it and steals.  (And it is also his responsibility that any extra locker keys are kept absolutely secure.)  

[Guest steve888sg]

The both keys was put together. The massuer took one out on the way to the room. I should have be more cautious. Think I was too tired with all the walking n the super hot weather.

[firecat69]

Sorry it happened to you but it is such a rare occasion for someone to experience a theft from a Thai Money Boy, it is quite startling when it does happen.

 

It has has happened to me twice in 15 years and I shutter to think how many offs but at least a thousand.

[Guest whall]

Thx for the word of warning

[rollingstone]

I was a fan of this joint some ten years ago before I found Pattaya to be a greener pastures; but still visit Bangkok from time to time.

 

Never went back to Banana since I discovered that my money was stolen. It perhaps happened multiple times during that single trip (I would go to Banana a few times in a trip typically during lazy afternoons).The very last time I was absolutely sure my money dissappeared. I did not make a scene of any sort and paid up, left and never returned.

 

I almost concluded that the manager had a hand in this. Now I can conclude that he did. I assume all the boys during my days of visits to Banana would have left; but at any rate, this kind of things should not have reoccurred inside a same shop.

 

Pretty sure the manager is the same one according to other accounts of customer visits.

[a447a]

A couple of years ago I forgot to change my watch before leaving for Thailand. Normally, I change an expensive one for a cheap Casio watch.

 

A few seconds after leaving a massage place I realised I'd left my watch behind. When I went back to collect it, surprise, surprise. it had mysteriously disappeared. The manager and the boy both put on a display of "searching" for it - it was quite farcical.

 

I want to the Tourist Police headquarters to make a report but they weren't in the least interested. I suggested a policeman accompany me back to the massage place but they basically laughed the suggestion off. What? You want us to get off our arses and actually do something about it?

 

Needless to say, I never saw the watch again. The boy probably pawned it for a few hundred baht. Maybe the manager was in on it and got a cut of the profit. Wouldn't surprise me.

 

So if you have something stolen, basically you are on your own. Don't expect help from anyone, least of all the "police."

[firecat69]

Interesting here that all the thefts mentioned here took place in massage places. I rarely visit those any longer but I was always suspicious of safety of valuables in these places. Mainly because most do not have private showers . I never wore watches etc and had limited cash with me.

 

Now if I was to visit I would carry a waterproof pouch around my neck and the problem of theft should be eliminated.

[Guest steve888sg]

Thought I was only one who have such experience. Glad that we have this site to share and warn others if they even go to Banana or other massage places to be careful with their belongings. Esp never put things in places you cant see.

[Travellerdave]

When I go for a massage I have a plastic bag with me. I place my wallet and watch in this and take it into the shower pre-massage. My clothes will normally have stayed in the cubicle. On return I place the bag in a non-access able place in my clothing so that the boy cannot easily get his hands on the contents. Over the last 12 years I must have had over a hundred massages and don't think I have ever been robbed.

In my room with a boy my valuables stay in the room safe, apart from my iPad which I don't think is particularly attractive unlike my iPhone. The iPad is often on the bedside table after being used to watch gay porn with the boy.

[kentop]

I'm paranoid - had camera stolen once, and that's it.  Now in hotel, everything locked in safe deposit.  Except lube and rubber . Money for boy comes out while boy is showering after fun, then relock. 

[vinapu]

in my 12 trips I have only one theft, 500 baht lifted from my pocked in the crowded BTS and even this I'm not 100% sure as it was possible I simply dropped it while picking money from pocket to buy a ticket 

[orson]

I thought the manager of banana is singaporean who can definitely speak straight english. But that was a couple of years ago. Havent been to their new location.

[DivineMadman]

I think you are right that the owner / manager speaks English fluently. Perhaps this event occurred when he wasn't there. In my own interactions with the owner/manager I can not imagine him condoning theft, so my guess (and it's only a guess) that this unfortunate event happened when he was not there and someone else was "managing".

[vinapu]

Hi name is Kevin and I agree with post above, I can't imagine him condoning any theft there, 

[Guest soi23]

Sorry to hear your misfortune,,, I have been to Banana a few times and never liked the locker room set up, and was told it was easier to keep clean and that is one thing I liked about the place ,is its cleanliness.

Kevin the manger seems like a very nice guy surprised that he would put up with this... he seemed very sensitive to bad Pr when I talked to him once.

[Guest finally]

I sent a mail to the manager, telling him what had happened. I will report if he answers

[dellboy]

i was there last week , and even though nothing bad happened , i saw the possibility of duplicate keys ..... the locker keys are very cheap and standard therefore a master key could easily be made .  

 

btw , i enjoyed my time 1700 baht inclusive . everything very professional and super clean ! 

[a447a]

Contacting the manager is a great idea, especially if he is not Thai.

 

I once had a problem in a bar in Sunee and emailed the farang owner. Things were put right very quickly and I never had a problem there again.