Australian Tourist Loses 200,000 Baht on Pattaya Bus

[reader]

From Pattaya News

An Australian tourist expressed frustration after losing all his belongings and a large sum of money allegedly to a pickpocket on a tour bus while traveling to Pattaya to celebrate Loy Krathong.

On November 27th, around 4:30 PM, Mr. Jeevarass Palasunoram, an Australian tourist in his 30s, reported the incident to Pol. Lt. Col. Natchaphon Saengsi, Deputy Superintendent for investigation at Pattaya Police Station.

According to Mr. Jeevarass, he had taken an air-conditioned tour bus from Ekamai in Bangkok to Pattaya. Upon arriving in Pattaya around 4:30 PM, he discovered that his wallet, containing 9,500 Australian dollars (around 200,000 Thai baht), 1,500 Thai baht, and various documents, was missing from his backpack, which he had placed in the overhead compartment above his seat

Mr. Jeevarass immediately reported the incident to the police upon reaching his hotel in Pattaya. The police attempted to inspect the bus for any clues but were informed by the unnamed bus driver that the vehicle did not have any security cameras.

Without clear leads or evidence, Pol. Lt. Col. Natchaphon told local media that he was unable to determine where Mr. Jeevarass might have dropped his belongings or whether the theft occurred on the bus. The investigation into the incident remains inconclusive at the time of reporting.

[PeterRS]

This sort of thing seems to happen with increasing regularity. I for one wonder how it is possible for reasonably large sums of cash to be carried around and placed in back pockets or in wallets in backpacks placed in a bus overhead compartment and thus remain out of sight of the owner. 

In this case, the headline mentions losing all his belongings. Yet the article seems at odds with that as it mentions merely a wallet and various documents. Whichever is correct (assuming the theft actually happened), having a reasonably large amount of cash in a backpack which the owner does not keep on his lap or under his seat with one or both feet on it beats me! That said, I do sometimes carry cash in a backpack - especially if I am going to Japan where cash is still frequently preferred - but that stays under my aircraft or bus seat where I can see that no-one touches it.

[a-447]

This seems a bit odd.

How would 95 x $100 notes fit into a single wallet (assuming that the money was all in that denomination)?

[Boy69]

5 hours ago, a-447 said:

This seems a bit odd.

How would 95 x $100 notes fit into a single wallet (assuming that the money was all in that denomination)?

It was not into single wallet but in backpack anyway it's stupid to  placed in the overhead compartment above his seat.

[10tazione]

On an overnight flight, where do you put your cash, credit cards and passport while trying to sleep? In the overhead compartment or in your pocket?

[forky123]

9 minutes ago, 10tazione said:

On an overnight flight, where do you put your cash, credit cards and passport while trying to sleep? In the overhead compartment or in your pocket?

If you must put it in an overhead compartment at least use a bag that you can securely lock. 

[dellboy]

it can be put in your pockets , cash,cards and passport !!

[a-447]

11 hours ago, Boy69 said:

It was not into single wallet but in backpack anyway it's stupid to  placed in the overhead compartment above his seat.

“………..he discovered that his wallet, containing 9,500 Australian dollars (around 200,000 Thai baht), 1,500 Thai baht, and various documents, was missing from his backpack……”

[PeterRS]

12 hours ago, 10tazione said:

On an overnight flight, where do you put your cash, credit cards and passport while trying to sleep? In the overhead compartment or in your pocket?

I am fortunate that for overnight flights I am able to treat myself to business class. With a window seat, there is usually a small compartment for personal belongings which it would be almost impossible for a thief to access without waking you. Best of all are the Qatar Q Suites which have doors in addition to small compartments and I am certain the excellent and attentive staff would recognise if someone was trying to access your little suite.

I only had one problem with Qatar, but it was totally my fault. I had stupidly left my iPad in the suite on my return to BKK. It was quickly found and back in my possession a couple of days later. 

[thaiophilus]

22 hours ago, 10tazione said:

On an overnight flight, where do you put your cash, credit cards and passport while trying to sleep? In the overhead compartment or in your pocket?

Pockets, plural. Like @vinapu I have many 😄

 

 

[12is12]

Not only during flights:

When travelling I have on me a hidden "safe pocket", hung on the belt INSIDE the trousers against my side. 

Pickpockets proof

[vinapu]

On 11/30/2023 at 1:14 PM, 10tazione said:

On an overnight flight, where do you put your cash, credit cards and passport while trying to sleep? In the overhead compartment or in your pocket?

In the money belt inside my underwear

[12is12]

Well, inside underwear is where one keeps all kinds of valuables...