Gaybutton Posted July 8, 2007 Posted July 8, 2007 I don't know how many times we've seen stories of "farang" losing large amounts of cash and valuables to burglars. Only one week ago I posted a similar story and now we've got yet another one. This is becoming even more common than the "Flying Farang" stories. Would someone please explain to me for what possible reason anyone would choose to keep hundreds of thousands of baht at home rather than in a bank? That's another one I'm adding to my "I don't get it" list. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ 700,000 Baht in Cash and Valuables Stolen from American’s South Pattaya Home At 8.30 on Wednesday Night, Police Major Sompon from Pattaya Police Station was called to house number 388/42 at the Suksabai Villas in South Pattaya after receiving information of a theft which had taken place at the location. Arriving at the scene, Police were met by Mr. Dexter Lee Wesson aged 61 from USA. He explained that he had just returned from the Hospital where his pregnant Wife was staying. Upon his return, he noticed the front door of the house had been forced open with what appeared to be a crowbar which had been left inside the house. The safe box inside the house had been removed which contained 35 Baht in Gold which equates to an approximate value of 370,000 Baht and 350,000 Baht in cash and a number of personal documents. Police found a number of footprints inside the house and the crowbar has been taken into evidence and will be dusted for prints at the station. There were no witnesses which leaves Police with little to go on for now as Mr. Wesson comes to terms with the theft and the possibility he may never see the stolen items again. Quote
Guest PeterUK Posted July 8, 2007 Posted July 8, 2007 Would someone please explain to me for what possible reason anyone would choose to keep hundreds of thousands of baht at home rather than in a bank? That's another one I'm adding to my "I don't get it" list. You're far too innocent for this world, Gaybutton. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 8, 2007 Author Posted July 8, 2007 You're far too innocent for this world, Gaybutton. Perhaps so, but my money is staying in the bank. Whenever I read about "farang" losing large amounts of money around here, it's always because it was kept at home. I don't recall reading anything about "farang" losing their money because it was kept in a bank. Quote
Guest luvthai Posted July 8, 2007 Posted July 8, 2007 61 and has a pregnant wife in the hospital!!!! Maybe there's still hope forme. HaHa Quote
Bob Posted July 8, 2007 Posted July 8, 2007 There's an argument that stashing large amounts of cash on your person or at home ought to be a crime! Hell, look at all it costs in police investigations (probably causes a couple of beat cops to actually have to think for an hour or two!), the ink in the newspapers (Lordy, Al Gore should get involved - they're deforesting the Amazon to report on stupid falangs!), the chatter on these web boards (lot of wasted chemical-electrical brain connections), etc. I propose a billboard be erected at the entrance to Pattaya (or anyplace) that might read: Attention Dumbass Falang! 1. Money. If you keep more than 20,000 baht on your person or at your residence, don't bother calling the police because your money or valuables were stolen. We've got better things to do than wasting our time figuring out why you were so stupid to do that. We do have banks here (duh.....you know, those places whose job it is to safely hold your money?????). Use them. And, of course, 99% of the people getting robbed of their cash or valuables at home lose the stuff because they tell somebody else it's there (our robbers don't just willy nilly search every goddam house!). Don' tell anybody you have the cash there! (meaning, don't advertise your stupidity!). 2. Flying. You cannot fly and we're tired of shovelling up your remains outside our tall condo buildings and monuments. Please note that it is against the law to kill yourself here (please do that just before you come to Thailand). Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 8, 2007 Author Posted July 8, 2007 61 and has a pregnant wife in the hospital!!!! Maybe there's still hope forme. HaHa You want to be a father at 61? And who says he's the father? Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 The safe box inside the house had been removed I agree entirely with the comments re the sheer stupidity of storing large amounts of cash in homes. But surely the most idiotic part of this sad saga is that the thieves were able to carry off the safe! What was it - a little cash box? Anyone installing a safe should surely have the intelligence to make certain it is built in to a wall or totally secured to a floor. A safe will always attract a thief, so the owner has to make sure it is as thief-proof as possible. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 9, 2007 Author Posted July 9, 2007 Anyone installing a safe should surely have the intelligence to make certain it is built in to a wall or totally secured to a floor. A safe will always attract a thief, so the owner has to make sure it is as thief-proof as possible. We all have our own ideas as to how to secure our valuables. If it were me, then a safe is exactly what I would want and expect a burglar to steal. I would not keep anything of value in it at all. I'd use it as a decoy. The burglar steals the safe and when he later breaks it open all he has is a broken safe. If I was keeping valuables at home, then I'd have them well hidden, but not in the safe. Quote
Guest laurence Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Let me guess GB! Maybe keep the money stashed in your lap top computer? Quote
PattayaMale Posted July 10, 2007 Posted July 10, 2007 It does seem that there would be no reason to store cash at home, except that the Thai banks are asking for 30% interest free for a year and not allowing you to take out of the country more than the equivilant of $5000 (depends on the bank and official). I tried to find a safety deposit box at a bank and have had no luck. So what are the choices? My ATM allows a limited cash withdrawl each day and each week. I can make purchases with my credit card but for large amounts I pay a visa fee, an ATM fee, a bank fee and currency exchange fee. So lets say I want to buy a car. I can't get a loan here so must pay cash. I need to build that amount over several weeks. Over 1 million baht for a car and so...... Quote
Guest mgluyas Posted July 10, 2007 Posted July 10, 2007 Hey guys, please excuse my ignorance(which means no narky comments from smiley). How does 35Baht in gold equal 350,000 Baht. In other words what does Baht mean Michael Quote
Guest wowpow Posted July 10, 2007 Posted July 10, 2007 The baht is a unit of currency and a weight of Thai gold. Currently around 10,600 baht a baht. Thaigold - Thai gold Gold has a deeper meaning to many Thais than just being a precious metal made for the making of coins, rings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry. Thailand's former name was Siam and this means gold in Sanskrit. The Chinese called the country as Jin lin, which means "peninsula of gold". Gold is also often mentioned in important Thai Buddhist literature, and Buddha is described as having a "skin of gold". Gold is also often used in the making of Buddha statues and other religious objects and artifacts. Jewelry and other gold objects also functions as a security to many Thais in case of difficult times. The gold can then be pledge until the family's economy gets improved. Weight One baht Thai gold is equivalent to 15,244 grams before it is worked up. After the work the weight should be equal with or more than 15,16 grams, to still be termed as one baht gold. (To simplify it, one baht of gold normally is termed as 15,2 grams) Karat and appearance Thai gold jewelry often has a purity of 96,5% gold, which is equivalent to 23 karat. The remaining 3,5% consist of alloys such as silver and bronze. Some shops also provides 22, 20 or 18 karat jewelry. Lower karat objects has become a little more common in Thailand nowadays, partly inspired by "western" or so called "farang gold". Generally speaking, the higher karat a gold object has, the softer it is. For that reason, a lower karat can be recommended for rings and thin jewelry. The Thai gold often has an intense "yellow" color due to the high carat. To buy gold There are two major schools in historical gold craftsmanship in Thailand; Sukhothai and Petchburi. These two styles of jewelry is represented in the thousands of gold shops you can find in Thailand. Most shops are located in Bangkok and the Chinatown in this capital city is a great place to look for jewelry. At Yaowarat Road, the main street in Chinatown, along the river Chao Praya, you will find a lot of gold shops. The karat and the price of the day are often documented on signs in all serious shops except in shop that sell "high-class-design-gold". Periodically authorities make random checks in gold shops to make sure that the purity (karat) of the gold is the same as the shop announces. We suggest you to take a look around in a few shops before you decide to buy any golden jewelry. Thai gold is often an good investment and definitely a memory for life. http://www.thai.nu/thaigold.html courtesy Google.com Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 10, 2007 Author Posted July 10, 2007 So lets say I want to buy a car. I can't get a loan here so must pay cash. I need to build that amount over several weeks. Over 1 million baht for a car and so...... That problem is quite easily solved. Get a cashier's check to buy the car. Quote
Guest wowpow Posted July 11, 2007 Posted July 11, 2007 Boards are queer places. When GB posted originally I though " Here we go again" again gratingly and "Farang loses enormous amount of cash" I though "dog bites man - not very interesting or newsworthy. But it blossomed into quite a fun and informative trail. Funny old world ain't it? Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 11, 2007 Author Posted July 11, 2007 Boards are queer places. This one certainly is . . . Quote
Guest pete1969 Posted July 12, 2007 Posted July 12, 2007 Hey guys, please excuse my ignorance(which means no narky comments from smiley). How does 35Baht in gold equal 350,000 Baht. In other words what does Baht mean Michael Michael, just ask any Thai guy, and he can fill you in rather quickly on the price of gold that day and the various weight measures! Sadly, after great education from my last Thai BF, I can too. Pete Quote
Guest kenrfc Posted July 14, 2007 Posted July 14, 2007 Hey guys, please excuse my ignorance(which means no narky comments from smiley). How does 35Baht in gold equal 350,000 Baht. In other words what does Baht mean Michael The original BAHT (currency) was a baht(weight) of gold. Much like the British Pound used to be the value of one pound (weight) of sterling silver. Eventually as everywhere, the curency was decoupled from the underlying metal so now the values differ. A baht (weight) today is 15.244 grams Most gold jewlery sold in Thailand is sold by baht weight. So your boyfriend will ask for a 1 or 2 baht necklace or bracelet (if you're lucky!) BTW, if you are in the market for "boyfriend gold" it always helps to know the current baht/bhat price of gold so you don't get ripped off by the Chinese gold sellers. Quote
