The Pickpocket

[TotallyOz]

Last night I went to a club for some music. I found a very sexy waiter and enjoyed his company. He also enjoyed having me near him. So much so in fact he kept going into my pockets to see what was there. After attempting to get into my wallet on 5 occasions, he got frustrated. He wanted to pour me a drink of high whiskey. I don't drink and declined. He tried to sneak some into my Soda but got more frustrated when I didn't drink that. We had a cat and mouse game for a bit and finally I tired of the game and sent him away.

 

 

I travel to Brazil many times each year. There, one has to watch the money, wallet, watch and everything else of value in any place they go. I have had friends get pick pocketed at clubs and discos and even had a few get drugged with the Cinderella cocktail. I am happy that Pattaya is not in the same league as that but everyone should still use caution when out in crowed places as well as low traffic areas. I had one Thai friend mugged 2 nights ago in Sunee as he was walking home. He was over 23 years old and very smart. However, he was alone. Please be careful.

 

Luckily, I had my wits about me but had I been drunk, this cute thing would be a few thousand bath richer.

 

As it was, I gave him a few tips over the night and got a few sweet kisses. Every time he tried to reach for my wallet, I would start to play with his cock. As he was not gay and not use to a gay club, this disturbed him enough to leave the wallet alone.

 

[Gaybutton]

People also need to understand that it's a mistake to carry more cash than necessary when going out on the town. Some of the major danger areas haunted by pickpockets are Beach Road at night, Walking Street, the darker, more remote areas near Yensabai Condo, and anywhere that is not well lit and where you'll find yourself alone.

 

If you are going to a sauna or massage parlor, be very careful about your wallet and mobile phone. The gay massage parlors in Pataya usually charge about 400 baht for the massage and want a 500 baht tip for the boy for a "happy ending" massage, so you don't need to enter a gay massage parlor with more than 1000 baht cash.

 

Unless necessary, there really is no need to carry things like credit cards, ATM cards, your passport, etc. If your room has a safe, that's the place to keep those items. If not, at least keep them in the hotel's lobby safe or very well hidden. If you intend to bring back a "guest" that's not the night to be wearing expensive gold chains or jewelry. You're better off if the boy doesn't even know you have such items.

 

One trick, if you are planning to bring a "guest" to your room, is to have his tip money ready and hidden before you even go out. That way, when you are ready to give him his tip you won't have to access your wallet or open your safe at all.

 

When you return to your hotel with your "guest" make sure he has his ID card (and make sure it's actually his) and have him leave his ID card at the front desk, with instructions not to give the ID card back to him unless you personally accompany him or the front desk first calls you to verify that everything is ok. Make sure the "guest" knows that you have given those instructions. Several hotels do that as a matter of routine, but not all. If the boy has no ID card or the photo does not sufficiently resemble him, then don't bring him to your room.

 

When you enter your room, the first thing to do is to put any valuables, including your mobile phone, in your safe. Most boys want to shower and also have you shower before engaging in other activities. It's when you're in the shower that you are most vulnerable to theft. There have been many times when the "farang" emerges from the shower only to find both the boy and his valuables gone.

 

I know many prefer to keep the boy overnight, but you're much safer doing "short time," when you'll send him on his way after you're done and you can sleep knowing you won't wake up to find belongings gone. If you like the boy, you can always make an arrangement to meet him at some mutually agreed time the next day.

 

Some of this may seem overly cautious, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Some of you may recall that not too long ago a "farang" was murdered when he brought two boys with him to his room at the View Talay condos. The condo has security guards. I'll bet if he had insisted that the boys leave their ID cards with one of the security guards, then it never would have happened.

 

Unfortunately pickpockets, petty thieves, and even violent crime is far more common than ever before. The odds are greatly in your favor that nothing at all will happen, but why take the chance? It's better, I think, to be overly cautions than risk having your holiday ruined by an incident. A phrase I often use, and I think it applies here, is think with your brain, not your crotch.

[TotallyOz]

As always GayButton, you are share a wealth of information. Great advice for all!

[Guest Snowkat]

there really is no need to carry things like ......... your passport, etc.

 

I thought it was mandatory to carry your passport when outside the hotel/apartment. I was once involved when a bar was raided and was lucky to have my passport with me - other farangs there were not so fortunate and were hauled off to the police station for immigration/visa checks and to pay a fine.

 

(Incidentally I understand that a photocopy of your passport is not acceptable).

 

As a resident expat, your comments would be appreciated.

[Guest BKKvisitor]

I agree: very good advice. I might add the following:

 

Although I spend most of my time in the Bangkok vicinity, the only attempt at being pick pocketed was while visiting the theatre near the 39 Under sauna. Advice: always be aware of the location of your friend's fingers and those of anyone sitting in adjacent seats or immediately behind (yes, it requires some concentration; think of it as domain awareness).

 

I was once seated at the bar at Balcony when a strikingly handsome thing sat next to me, struck up a conversation and then expressed an unusual interest in my gold watch. He invited me to visit a short-time room with himself and girlfriend. I declined. I have since acquired an inexpensive Timex for travel.

 

Columbia, North Face and Patagonia make travel pants of a very comfortable, synthetic fabric that is ideal for travel in warmer climes. They have many packets secured by zippers and/or velcro. They are no guarantee against the pick pocket but they will succeed in discouraging him. You're more like to feel a tug as his nimble fingers attempt to overcome the challenge.

 

And as others have said, limit the amount of cash you carry to what you can comfortably afford to lose. If you carry a credit and/or debit card, carry only one so you have a backup in the safe.

 

If you're visiting a massage place, never leave your valuables out of your sight. I roll up my pants and use them as a pillow. And definitely don't trust the security of any "locked" door in a message place.

 

The only place that I have been pick pocketed was in South America on public transit (and they are good, believe me).

 

I rarely carry my passport (I rely on a color copy), but visitors are suppose to have them on their person. Perhaps if I were going to a show bar on a weekend night, I would make exception.

 

 

[Guest kotter]

A situation that happened to my boyfriend and I was two days ago.

 

Driving a motorcyle along Soi 17 ( me driving) with boyfriend on the back, we were happily driving home when all of a sudden a bike came alongside, grabbed by boyfriends gold chain ( 3 baht plus the Buddha... value 34000 baht) wrenched off the neck and away he went. Tried to chase but totally impossible.

 

Went to the Police Station at 3.30pm to report it and the 'Colonel" who interviewed us said we were the 5th since midday!!!!!!

 

A lot that goes on in Pattaya is never reported so be very careful of what you carry and how you carry it.

 

I know it sounds melodramatic but it is getting very dangerous here. Even an older Thai friend, that same day, said " It is getting like New York" and he hasnt been there!

 

 

I should add that it took the boyfriend 3 years to get to that sizechain...so you can imagine the devastation he felt. So distraught and me feeling helpless.

[Gaybutton]

I thought it was mandatory to carry your passport when outside the hotel/apartment. I was once involved when a bar was raided and was lucky to have my passport with me - other farangs there were not so fortunate and were hauled off to the police station for immigration/visa checks and to pay a fine.

 

(Incidentally I understand that a photocopy of your passport is not acceptable).

 

As a resident expat, your comments would be appreciated.

 

It is technically mandatory, but the police are usually quite understanding if you carry a photocopy of your passport instead. Passports can be pick-pocketed too, you know. Make sure the photocopy includes your information and identity page, departure card, approved address report if you are holding a visa that requires one, and the entry stamp or visa stamp. In almost every case, if there is any serious question the police will accompany you to check your actual passport.

 

It's your call, but the last place I'd take my passport would be into a bar. It's unusual for the police to bother the "farang" at all during such raids. I'd rather have to go through the inconvenience of paying a fine and retrieving my actual passport in the unlikely event of being caught up in a raid and the police also demanding to see my passport. If you think that's a hassle, try experiencing the expense along with what you'll go through if your passport is lost or stolen. Carrying a photocopy is the lesser of the evils, in my opinion. My guess is the "farang" who were in the bar that night didn't even have a photocopy on them.

 

As far as I know, you only need your actual passport on your person when transacting business in a bank or opening an account, cashing travel checks, driving a car or motorcycle, a first time visit to a hospital (the hospital will issue you an ID card upon your first visit), traveling on an airline (even domestically in Thailand), doing paperwork at the Immigration Police office, or checking into a hotel. I can't think of any other circumstances in which having my actual passport with me was ever necessary.

[Gaybutton]

Driving a motorcyle along Soi 17 (me driving) with boyfriend on the back, we were happily driving home when all of a sudden a bike came alongside, grabbed by boyfriends gold chain

 

I'm very sorry to hear that you and your boyfriend became victims of this sort of crime, but since it did happen, I'm glad you posted about it. People ought to take note of the fact that this crime happened in broad daylight. The local criminals have become quite brazen about committing such thefts and unless you're really lucky, there won't be much the police can do about it. Sometimes I read stories about how the police managed to catch the thieves, but most of the time they get away with it.

[khaolakguy]

If you are visiting clubs in Bangkok outside the tourist areas, you will be required to show ID, usually passport, to gain entry.

 

 

[Guest Snowkat]

It is technically mandatory, but the police are usually quite understanding if you carry a photocopy of your passport instead.

 

Thanks very much. It is the "usually" bit that worries me!

 

The next time I visit I will get a good photocopy and take the chance. As you said passports CAN be pickpocketed as well and it always struck me as a bit stupid to demand that tourists carry them everywhere they go when such theft is so common, particularly in Pattaya - the two pick-pocket gangs, one of ladies and one of ladyboys, working the baht buses from the bus pick-up point at the 2nd Road/Pattaya Tai junction are a classic example - I have not read whether the BIB have yet managed to catch up with them (and this has been going on for at least two years).

 

[Gaybutton]

Thanks very much. It is the "usually" bit that worries me!

 

I understand your concern, but it's highly doubtful that you will have any problems. First, bar raids are rare and it's even more rare for the police to bother the "farang" patrons unless drug use is suspected. Most of the time the raids are for the purpose of rounding up under-age boys, foreign boys, such as Laotians, working in the bars, and that sort of thing. The chances of being caught up in a raid are quite remote and the chances of the police demanding to see your passport are even more remote. As I said, even then the worst that is going to happen will be inconvenience and a fine.

 

On the other hand, if something happens to your passport then you'll have to go to your embassy in Bangkok for a replacement. I don't know about other countries, but for USA citizens you would have to go to Bangkok with as much identification documentation as you can gather up, along with a police report and new passport photos in hand. You then will have to fill out a 'lost or stolen passport' replacement application and a detailed narrative of how you came to lose the passport is part of the application. The fee for a replacement passport is US $100.

 

Then you have a decision to make. If you need an emergency issue passport, and a typical reason for that is to have documents with which you can cash travel checks, continue to travel, or at least get home, it requires a second trip to the embassy because it takes three days for the embassy to have the emergency issue passport ready. That passport is not a full validity passport. It's good only for one year.

 

Your other choice is a full validity passport. It takes two weeks for the embassy to receive it, which also means a second trip to the embassy to pick it up once they have it.

 

Once you have the new passport, whether it's the limited or full validity passport, you'll then have to go to the Immigration Police office to obtain a new departure card. They will have all of your information in their computers and will be able to print up another one for you. You will have to produce the new passport and the police report.

 

Another little problem: You might not be as close to Bangkok as you are in Pattaya in the event of a lost or stolen pasport. Suppose, for example, you are in Chiang Mai or Phuket. You'll probably have to travel to Bangkok on a bus. You won't be able to fly. Why? Because you have to produce a passport in order to board domestic flights in Thailand. Airlines might accept a valid police report in lieu of the passport, but I don't know about that and I wouldn't want to be forced to find out the answer the hard way.

 

You'll have to make your own decision, of course, but weighing the choice between a couple hours inconvenience at the police station and a nominal fine in comparison with going through obtaining a new passport, my choice would be the police station and the fine.

 

In most circumstances the police will accept the photocopy of your passport, provided it contains everything I listed in an earlier post on this thread, without any problems or at worst an on-the-spot fine of about 500 baht. It is highly unusual for a "farang" to be taken to the police station at all, if he is carrying a photocopy, unless there is suspicion of criminal activity or suspicion that you have over-stayed.

[Guest Snowkat]

I understand your concern........... (etc etc)

 

 

Say no more ! You've already persuaded me. It was just that I hadn't thought of it to that extent and had always abided by the information I had read which stated that passport carrying was required by law (with the possibility that violation could also place one on the persona non grata list if caught without it, in addition to any fine - another point I had forgotten to include in my original post).

 

Anyway I am switching on the photopier right now !

[Gaybutton]

Say no more !

 

Well, just a little bit more. Unless the circumstances are highly unusual, you don't have to worry about being placed on some sort of persona non grata list. After all, you might have simply forgotten to take your passport with you when you left your hotel that day. The police aren't going to destroy your ability to return to Thailand because of something simple like that.

 

And while you are photocopying your passport, don't forget to also photocopy your entry stamp and your departure card upon your arrival in Thailand.

[Guest gonefishing]

A situation that happened to my boyfriend and I was two days ago.

 

Driving a motorcyle along Soi 17 ( me driving) with boyfriend on the back, we were happily driving home when all of a sudden a bike came alongside, grabbed by boyfriends gold chain ( 3 baht plus the Buddha... value 34000 baht) wrenched off the neck and away he went. Tried to chase but totally impossible.

 

Went to the Police Station at 3.30pm to report it and the 'Colonel" who interviewed us said we were the 5th since midday!!!!!!

 

A lot that goes on in Pattaya is never reported so be very careful of what you carry and how you carry it.

 

I know it sounds melodramatic but it is getting very dangerous here. Even an older Thai friend, that same day, said " It is getting like New York" and he hasnt been there!

I should add that it took the boyfriend 3 years to get to that sizechain...so you can imagine the devastation he felt. So distraught and me feeling helpless.

 

There are an average of eight similar reported thefts (gold chains from motorbike riders / passengers) in the Pattaya area per day; most are from Thais, but this is only because more Thais wear gold. You are 100% correct that it is getting far more dangerous here, particularly where serious / armed crime is concerned, and in addition to the inter-gang / gang-related shootings there have been a number of deaths and serious injuries to totally innocent passers-by who have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The published crime figures do not appear to reflect this accurately, as many "crimes" are logged as "incidents" unless an offender is caught, when they become "solved crimes"!

 

Pattaya is "growing up" and sadly this seems to be part of the process; those in favour of a casino to "improve" Pattaya's attractions are either oblivious to the problems it may bring with it or are deliberately minimising the dangers.

[Gaybutton]

those in favour of a casino to "improve" Pattaya's attractions are either oblivious to the problems it may bring with it or are deliberately minimising the dangers.

 

The last time I even heard anything mentioned about the casinos was about a year ago. Even then, I clearly remember the recommendations being that no casinos be allowed in the beach resort areas. At the moment it seems to be a non-issue. I'm not saying the whole thing won't eventually come up again, but at least for now Thailand seems to have a few other priorities.

 

Besides, the new construction in Pattaya is so rampant that even if casinos are eventually allowed, where would they put them? There's not all that much space left.

[Guest Snowkat]

Besides, the new construction in Pattaya is so rampant that even if casinos are eventually allowed, where would they put them? There's not all that much space left.

 

I thought the proposal was to site the casino, if it is ever built, on Koh Larn ?

 

[Guest thrillbill8]

These are all good suggestions... I only carry a copy of my passport and it is even accepted at hotels when I am visiting BKKk. I just tell them that my real passport is at the American Embassy getting more pages.

I thought I was cautious once in Saigon when I had a "friend" to my hotel room after going to a dance club. Everything was put away like all of the suggestions... but when he left my bathroom after cleaning up afterwards I failed to check the bathroom. My cheap watch, prescription glasses, and almost empty bottle of cologne were taken. So they'll take anything.

[Guest A Rose By Any Other Name]

If you are going to a sauna or massage parlor, be very careful about your wallet and mobile phone. The gay massage parlors in Pataya usually charge about 400 baht for the massage and want a 500 baht tip for the boy for a "happy ending" massage, so you don't need to enter a gay massage parlor with more than 1000 baht cash.

 

GB,

I usually agree with almost everything you say, but here I just don't see it. Are you really telling us that you would go to a massage parlor, have a one hour massage, have your way with a boy for as long as you wanted and then just give him 500 baht?

 

I am sorry, but this seems on the way low end to me. Do you ever get angry boys?

 

TR The Rose

[Gaybutton]

I am sorry, but this seems on the way low end to me. Do you ever get angry boys?

 

Certainly if you want to tip more that's fine and I'm sure they would be delighted to accept, but the 500 baht figure is what the managers and the boys themselves tell me that they want. That is what I was told in several massage parlors I've personally checked in Pattaya, and I've checked as recently as this very week. I too was somewhat surprised, but that's what they all are telling me. Apparently that is the going rate. Go ahead and check for yourself. I'd be very interested to know if they are telling other people anything different from what they are telling me.

 

Besides, you are putting words in my mouth that I never said. I never said anything about having one's way with a boy for as long as you want. You get your hour and that's it. If you want more time then you have to pay for more time.

 

I don't make these things up out of thin air, TR. I published the price because I checked it out and that is what I was told by four different gay massage parlors.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Regarding the gold snatchings: I know of one farang who had his gold chain snatched by motorbikers while on baht bus right near Boyztown.

 

Another snatching I know of was on a baht bus on Sukumvit. I was sitting next to the Thai who had his chair snatched, also by motor bikers. I saw the hand come to grab it, but it was so fast there wasn't time to do anything about it.

 

The last one I know of personally also happened on Sukumvit. The Thai was riding his motorbike when another motorbike came close to him and the passenger snatched his chain. This time the victim chased th thieves and cought the passenger and promtly beat the holy crap out of him and had him arrested. The thief was under 16 so the penalty is minimal. This is apparently the idea. An older guy drives the bike and has a younger one do the snatching in case he is caught.