THEFTS ON THAI COACHES WARNING

Replies: 46 - Last Post: 16-Dec-2008 05:32 Last Post By: Captain_Bob

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preuben

31-Aug-2004 01:15
Posts: 2

THEFTS ON THAI COACHES WARNING

After meeting a guy in Ayuttyha with the same sorry story as me, I thought I'd post a quick, probably familiar warning about security on Thai coaches as we were both robbed.

The route in question is the popular Surat Thani to the Ko Samui ferry on the east coast, although thefts may also be common on other popular routes. The customers are overwhelmingly farang/ western tourist, so this represents easy pickings for the operators.

Basically, you part with your bag, handing it to the guy in the extremely large luggage hold - big enough for a man to sift through all the bags. He's likely to be equipped with a torch and padlock picking equipment as I have two large locks on my bag which were opened and locked again once he'd taken the 10,000 baht I'd recently withdrew, as well as fifty GB pounds and 20 US dollars.

The coach itself is immense - the seating area is extremely high off the ground and the vehicle travelled unbearably slowly - presumably to make life easier for the thief in the hold. The best advice is to keep your belongings with you at all times, obviously. I normally do this but was having wisdom tooth pain at the time and was in no mood to think about anything else - poor excuse, I know.

If anyone is likely to be taking this coach or if, perhaps, they're about to use a service in use by tourists, please bear in mind that you may get robbed. If anyone is going to Surat Thani and is about to take a huge pink coach to the Ko Samui ferry port, please warn everyone else loudly so that the staff hear, and for good measure, please also demand my money back and mail it to me.

No replies to the effect that I'm an idiot either. I'm doing this purely to warn others plus you'll only look smug and get bad karma too.

Safe, happy travels.

Anil

31-Aug-2004 01:27
Posts: 54

a few questions, did you book thecoach from guesthouse/travel agents?

I'd recommend people who are not too slack to take the buses from proper government terminal and avoid private buses if possible.

The forecast today is dark and cloudy with a possibility of a drive-by.

steve252

31-Aug-2004 01:27
Posts: 1,263

just to clarify - this was a KSR/"tourist" bus (ie you bought the ticket from an agent and were picked up at the side of the road somewhere, and there were no Thai passengers on the bus), not a normal Thai long distance public transport bus (ie a "Government" bus from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, which was carrying more Thai passengers than foreigners)?

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steve252

31-Aug-2004 01:29
Posts: 1,263

perfect timing, eh...

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preuben

31-Aug-2004 01:36
Posts: 2

Sorry, yes, forgot to clarify. This was a tourist coach booked in Phuket from a street stall, and not the KS Road, although same same, to be honest.

Agreed, the mainly thai commuter government/ local buses are much safer/ cheaper.

Chanchao

31-Aug-2004 01:53
Posts: 6,715

Same-same indeed. Sadly we see these posts VERY regularly.

Bottom line: Stick to government regulated transport from the bus stations (every town or province has at least one!) and avoid 'backpacker-express' buses from guesthouses, travel agencies, etc, etc.

We see these posts VERY regularly. All the same, thanks for posting and bringing it up yet again.

Cheers,
Chanchao

Check out pics and reviews of all kinds of food at chanchao.fotopages.com. Get the Thai Travel Menu, a printable bilingual menu to help you order great food off the beaten path.

travelfish

31-Aug-2004 02:50
Posts: 198

Leaving 10,000B in a stowed bag is pretty silly, as is catching a tourist bus you booked from a street stall, but useful warning to others nevertheless

As an aside a Thai friend went to by tickets on just such a bus (private company) the other day and was told she had to pay a 100B surcharge because she was Thai! Has anyone come across that? According to the ticket seller it's a TAT policy to deter Thais from riding these buses due to theiving issues...

I've always maintained theft is just as big a problem on those buses with farangs robbing each other, but I'd never heard of the surcharge. She told them where to stick the surcharge and went to Sai Tai Mai - amazing thailand.

Travelfish -- your online guide to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

GorShar

31-Aug-2004 04:09
Posts: 1,410

Well that's another warning. Folks, do not take any bus in Thailand except those that leave from the regular bus terminals. Do not take any bus that is all tourists. Do not take any bus that involves buying a ticket anywhere but at the ticket window at the bus station.

To the new folks around here - we get these posts almost every week. Take heed.

Quote
As an aside a Thai friend went to by tickets on just such a bus (private company) the other day and was told she had to pay a 100B surcharge because she was Thai! Has anyone come across that? According to the ticket seller it's a TAT policy to deter Thais from riding these buses due to theiving issues...

It's to discourage Thais from riding on these buses as they may catch on to some of the nonsense and possess the language skills and local wherewithall to do something about it. About two yers ago when I was polling agents on KSR over prices to Siem Reap I was told by one that a Thai would have to pay 400 baht opposed to the 100 or 200 or whatever it was they were offering western tourists.

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Anil

31-Aug-2004 06:30
Posts: 54

also TAT does not sell tickets to buses.

The forecast today is dark and cloudy with a possibility of a drive-by.

p_roachy

31-Aug-2004 14:00
Posts: 12

This has been going on for years and nothing seem to be done about it!

steve252

25-Oct-2004 00:52
Posts: 1,263

appropriated from this thread:

Quote
TOURIST WARNING: Rise in thefts on buses to the South

Drivers, attendants stealing valuables while passengers sleep, say police

Tourists are being warned to be on the lookout for thieves stealing valuables from passengers’ luggage while travelling on inexpensive buses and vans heading from Bangkok to southern tourist destinations.

"We have received many complaints about such thefts," Maj-General Panya Mamen, chief of the Tourist Police, said yesterday.

He said that the thieves often lure tourists into a trap by offering them cheap rides from Bangkok to destinations in the South.

To prevent the thefts, police are handing out warning brochures to tourists, setting up checkpoints on roads to the South and placing plainclothes officers aboard tourist vans and buses.

The Tourist Police have also asked the Land Transport Department to keep a close watch on transport operators.

Panya said police were monitoring several gangs allegedly involved in these thefts.

"We can’t disclose any details because investigations and preparations for making arrests are ongoing," Panya said.

On Saturday, Tourist Police Colonel Weeraphan Tanjai and his team arrested five suspects in Surat Thani on charges of stealing valuables from foreign passengers.

Weeraphan said drivers and their attendants worked together, stealing valuables from passengers' luggage while they were sleeping at night.

Southern Tourism Bureau Region 5 director Pramote Sapyen said his office regularly received complaints over such thefts. Tourists discovered their valuables missing only after they had left the bus or van.

"Most complaints come from visitors to Koh Samui," he said.

Pramote said his office planned to post warning notices around main tourist attractions and in vans and buses to make tourists aware of the thefts. They would also ask travel agencies to watch out for suspicious transport operators.

Sumalee Harnpanyapichit, Suwannee Bunditsak -- The Nation -- Published on Oct 24 , 2004

www.komchadluek.net/breaking/read.php?lang=en&newsid=21669

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Udon Thani

19-Nov-2004 16:02
Posts: 30

I might add, avoid the travel agencies just outside the Hua LamPhong station in the rd parallel to the station.
They offer vip buses to the south........... forget it.
BTW there is a string of agencies there and i think that they are all one company.

Gorshar summed it up well.

Caveat emptor: Latin for "Welcome to Thailand"

squodge

20-May-2005 17:00
Posts: 6

Pardon the slightly ignorant question - Are trains in Thailand generally safer for this kind of thing?

JeffLee

20-May-2005 17:42
Posts: 436

I say the trains are safer. In 2nd class, you store your luggage in racks directly beside your seat/berth, you don't have to give it to a stranger.

The rule of thumb while on the road is to use your main bag to store relatively worthless and replacable stuff like clothes and toiletries. Money, passport, etc should be kept on you, preferably in a hidden pouch stuffed down your trousers.

Pattaya - "The happiest place on Earth"

steve252

21-May-2005 03:47
Posts: 1,263

I've used both the "government" bus services and the trains (everything from overnight sleepers to 3rd class) a lot - never had any kind of safety/security problem with either

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