Thieves Devise New Ways to Rob Tourists

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Note from GB: I've posted about this many times, and this time of year might be a good time to post again. Tourists are being victimized by criminals. We constantly read about bag snatchings, gold chain snatchings, people being drugged and then 'rolled,' pickpockets, and just about anything else you can think of. Most of these robberies occur late at night, beyond the 1:00 AM bar closing times. Most of the time the victims are alone and in areas that are not well lit and are not crowded. That's not to say that these crimes don't also occur in broad daylight. Most of the gold chain snatchings occur in broad daylight.

 

My advice is to try to stay in well-lit areas, where there are plenty of other people. Late at night, stay in the tourist areas. Don't go wandering into remote areas. If you sport gold chains or other gold jewelery, these days you're literally asking to be a target for a snatcher. Leave the gold chains in your room safe. Carry only the amount of cash you will need at one time.

 

Pattaya has employed the use of 900 Thai military personnel to patrol the streets in an effort to help fight these kinds of crimes. The police department simply does not have the manpower to ensure safety for all. Even with the military personnel, that's not much help if you're wandering around alone, outside of areas where you belong, in the middle of the night.

 

The following appears in PATTAYA PEOPLE:

 

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000002203

 

CUNNING ROBBERS EMPLOY NEW TRICKS TO ROB TOURISTS

 

Police Lieutenant Colonel, Tailert Leupeu, on duty at Dongtan Police Box, at the corner of Jomtien Beach Road, responded to a call at about 2.00 am on 29th December concerning an Indian tourist, who had been attacked by a robber.

 

When the police arrived at the scene, only 1 km from the police station, they found Mr. Mohammed Zakir (38), an Indian National, in a terrible state with his face and his clothes covered in pepper, desperately calling out for help, and frantically rubbing his eyes. He was also attempting to run into the sea to wash the pepper out of his eyes. The police rendered immediate assistance and sent him to the hospital for proper treatment.

 

The Indian victim told the police that he was a businessmen from India, involved in import and exports. He had came to Thailand to visit friends, who run several tailoring shops on Walking Street, Pattaya. Early last night, before heading back to his hotel, he decided to go for a walk on Jomtien beach, not very far from the police station.

 

On his walk, he was suddenly set upon by a bag-snatcher, who had been hiding near the beach, and who threw pepper in his face. He was in shock and temporarily blinded, but still tried to prevent his bag from being stolen.

 

Sadly, without avail, as the snatcher succeeded in pulling it from his shoulder. His bag contained US$550, his passport, 10,500 Baht, 7,000 Indian Rupees, an Ipod player, two shirts, a pair of jeans and his return plane ticket; approximate total value: 50,000 Baht.

 

The police assumed the robbers were really well-prepared. However, they are pursuing inquiries and searching for the robbers and will inform the press about any developments. They do reiterate, however, that it is not advisable to go alone to isolated areas at such times in the morning.