In three separate incidents, thieves are employing new tactics to target victims
“The station was very crowded and I had become separated from a friend. I was surrounded by other passengers when suddenly I felt a weight on my foot – it was the knee of a man who had somehow managed to crouch down behind me so I couldn’t see him or what he was about to do.
“He was extremely strong and having trapped my foot then twisted it with considerable force. I was in agony, especially as I had only recently had a serious knee replacement operation. All I could think about was the pain.
“In the confusion, my wallet was snatched from my pocket by, I think, a second man. I wasn’t in a position to do anything as I was in such pain.
“Nobody came to my assistance, and it was some moments later that my friend saw that I was in some kind of trouble and came back to help.”
The man, clearly shaken by the theft but adamant that it would not deter him from future trips to Thailand, said that the thieves got away with US$1,300 in cash. “Luckily I wasn’t carrying another wallet which contains my passport and credit cards. That would have been disastrous.
“What upsets me most, though, is the violence of this incident. In Europe, we have pickpockets, but they don’t attack you.”
The man reported the assault to the general manager of a nearby five-star hotel where he was staying, recommending that he issue a warning to other guests about the dangers of pickpockets lurking on the streets and public areas next to the BTS stations.
“He was extremely strong and having trapped my foot then twisted it with considerable force. I was in agony, especially as I had only recently had a serious knee replacement operation. All I could think about was the pain.
“In the confusion, my wallet was snatched from my pocket by, I think, a second man. I wasn’t in a position to do anything as I was in such pain.
“Nobody came to my assistance, and it was some moments later that my friend saw that I was in some kind of trouble and came back to help.”
The man, clearly shaken by the theft but adamant that it would not deter him from future trips to Thailand, said that the thieves got away with US$1,300 in cash. “Luckily I wasn’t carrying another wallet which contains my passport and credit cards. That would have been disastrous.
“What upsets me most, though, is the violence of this incident. In Europe, we have pickpockets, but they don’t attack you.”
The man reported the assault to the general manager of a nearby five-star hotel where he was staying, recommending that he issue a warning to other guests about the dangers of pickpockets lurking on the streets and public areas next to the BTS stations.
“In Europe, we have pickpockets, but they don’t attack you”
THIS is what a Swiss tourist in Bangkok told The BigChilli after being subjected to an audacious assault and theft on the Asok BTS Skytrain station last month.
The victim, a businessman in his sixties and a regular visitor to Thailand, was heading for the main public stairs to Sukhumvit Road below when the incident took place.
THIS is what a Swiss tourist in Bangkok told The BigChilli after being subjected to an audacious assault and theft on the Asok BTS Skytrain station last month.
The victim, a businessman in his sixties and a regular visitor to Thailand, was heading for the main public stairs to Sukhumvit Road below when the incident took place.
Ladyboys’ too close attention
AFTER a few beers in a Bangkok bar, a long-term expat – himself the manager of a local pub – was making his way home along Sukhumvit when a group of three ladyboys confronted him with their trademark promises of a good time and ultra-close attention.
Under the effects of a little too much alcohol, the man was far more confused than amused by the group’s cuddling-up tactics.
And as quickly as they had converged on him, so they disappeared. The barman soon knew why: the ladyboys had relieved him of his wallet.
“I was more angry with myself for not anticipating what was obviously going to happen,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll be more careful next time, if there is a next time.”
This group may be the same group that was recently observed towering above a Japanese tourist as he attempted to use one of the ATM machines outside the Pacific Place on Sukhumvit. While there’s no knowing whether the fellow was persuaded to part with part or all of his cash, the incident may have resulted in the recent around-the-clock posting of a security guard beside the machines.
AFTER a few beers in a Bangkok bar, a long-term expat – himself the manager of a local pub – was making his way home along Sukhumvit when a group of three ladyboys confronted him with their trademark promises of a good time and ultra-close attention.
Under the effects of a little too much alcohol, the man was far more confused than amused by the group’s cuddling-up tactics.
And as quickly as they had converged on him, so they disappeared. The barman soon knew why: the ladyboys had relieved him of his wallet.
“I was more angry with myself for not anticipating what was obviously going to happen,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll be more careful next time, if there is a next time.”
This group may be the same group that was recently observed towering above a Japanese tourist as he attempted to use one of the ATM machines outside the Pacific Place on Sukhumvit. While there’s no knowing whether the fellow was persuaded to part with part or all of his cash, the incident may have resulted in the recent around-the-clock posting of a security guard beside the machines.
Missing mobile returned
THANKS to a tracking device, a foreign businessman knew the geographical whereabouts of his new smartphone after it was stolen from him in a Sukhumvit bar. Apart from being nearby, it was also still switched on, so he used his wife’s mobile to send a message saying he’d pay a 4,000 baht reward for the phone’s return. In no time, an elderly lady called to say she’d bought the missing phone from a friend for precisely that sum.
After a short conversation, the lady agreed to meet him so they could exchange money-for-mobile. Without fuss, the deal was done and despite the 4,000 baht outlay, the man was happy to have phone back, complete with an almost priceless amount of information and contacts.
“I was relieved to have all that data back,” he said. “The money is nothing in comparison to what that’s worth to me and my business.”
He added that with latest generation smartphones costing upwards of 25,000 baht, especially the new launches that attract a premium price, tracking devices and external information storage are now more essential than ever “in case the phones go missing.”
The girl who stole the mobile in the first place has since been sacked after several other thefts in the same Soi 33 bar.
Official sources have acknowledged a recent rise in theft in certain areas of Bangkok.
THANKS to a tracking device, a foreign businessman knew the geographical whereabouts of his new smartphone after it was stolen from him in a Sukhumvit bar. Apart from being nearby, it was also still switched on, so he used his wife’s mobile to send a message saying he’d pay a 4,000 baht reward for the phone’s return. In no time, an elderly lady called to say she’d bought the missing phone from a friend for precisely that sum.
After a short conversation, the lady agreed to meet him so they could exchange money-for-mobile. Without fuss, the deal was done and despite the 4,000 baht outlay, the man was happy to have phone back, complete with an almost priceless amount of information and contacts.
“I was relieved to have all that data back,” he said. “The money is nothing in comparison to what that’s worth to me and my business.”
He added that with latest generation smartphones costing upwards of 25,000 baht, especially the new launches that attract a premium price, tracking devices and external information storage are now more essential than ever “in case the phones go missing.”
The girl who stole the mobile in the first place has since been sacked after several other thefts in the same Soi 33 bar.
Official sources have acknowledged a recent rise in theft in certain areas of Bangkok.
