Break-In

[Sarisin]

Alright, I will refrain from going too much into the messy details, but I returned to my Bangkok apartment to discover I had been burgularized.

 

The thieves had to get by contract guards (in and out), a receptionist, break down my maid's entrance door, break into a locked (padlocked) cabinet, and demolish two steel electronic-combination Brinks safes (weighing about 70 lbs a piece) to get to the loot.

 

Yes, this was an inside job - someone alerted the thieves to me being out of town for two weeks. They had plenty of time to get what they wanted. Yes, I should have not be so stupid to think the above security precautions would have been enough to protect my valuables. I should have rented a safety deposit box locally. I had no insurance.

 

My financial loss was substantial and I have taken steps (after the cows got out of the barn) to make sure there is never a repeat.

 

However, two points I would appreciate comment on:

 

1. The Thai police. I know what is coming from you guys, but I still welcome your input. They supposedly got good fingerprints off the safes and my toolbox - they used my own tools to break into the safes. I spent 3 hours at the Lumpini Station filing a report. I provided some very detailed descriptions (unfortunately no photos/receipts) of the items I lost other than cash. The attitude of the cops was very jovial and fun - maybe a Thai trait, but this did not make me feel very good. Many jokes were made at my expense.

 

Do I feel they will get ANY of my property back? Absolutely not. But, I was told that if I greased a few palms or perhaps put out a reward, I might get better results. I will not do either. Comments?

 

2. More than my financial loss is what I will call what this has done to me emotionally. I think many of you know me and how much I loved Thailand and my life here. I would be lying if I said that is still the case. I feel like I have received a very solid kick into my solar plexus and this feeling of "I Love Thailand" is gone.

 

I don't feel safe in my apartment now despite the owner making promises to improve security, get the thieves, etc. and I feel I have to move. A real pain-in-the-ass. Honestly, I initially felt like moving right the hell out of the country and to somewhere else. I realize this could happen anywhere.

 

But, I will stay, I guess. However, I am having a really difficult time coping here with my feelings over this whole incident. The combination of losing property, some of which was irreplaceable and of sentimental value, and knowing that it was Thais (albeit bad Thais) that did this to me, is something that will stay with me a long, long time.

 

Walking down Sukhumvit today, a very normal everyday thing for me, I felt very strange. That eye contact I always enjoyed with Thais and the exchange of many smiles was no longer there. I am sure this will come back, but for now...

 

Needless to say, I also have no desire whatsoever to go out. I don't want to leave my place unless I have to. I canceled a trip to Angeles City. I hear noises in the night I didn't hear before. This, too, will get better, but for now...

 

I could go on, but I won't.

 

Please, I am not looking for sympathy here. I just want to know if any of you ever went through this before and what you did on the road to recovery. I would particularly love to read any posts from members who were robbed here in Thailand.

 

It certainly has changed my whole perspective on the LOS, and, that really is a shame.

[spirit_of_town_hall]

I think many of you know me and how much I loved Thailand and my life here. I would be lying if I said that is still the case. I feel like I have received a very solid kick into my solar plexus and this feeling of "I Love Thailand" is gone.

 

---

 

This could have happened anywhere, your feelings of anger and shock will fade, dont let it stop you enjoying your life. Go out this evening and have a good night.

 

STH

[Sarisin]

Thank you for that speedy positive reply SOTH.

 

It just isn't that easy for me to go out and have a good night. You see, as I said, I am convinced this was an inside job and that person(s) is still working in this building somewhere (guard, maid, maintenance, etc.). They didn't get everything (thankfully), and they know that. Me not being around only gives them another opportunity...

 

Shit, see how paranoid I am? ::

[spirit_of_town_hall]

I have been in a similar situation, not identical as it wasnt in a foreign land, so I knew more where I stood. What I did do was make it known that I had installed some CCTV. I am guessing, I presume you are in rented accommodation so you may be restricted in what you can do. If you can install a cheap camera, make it obvious.

 

I think you are right in not paying the police

 

a/ They should do it anyway its their job

b/ Do you want the police knocking on your door whenever they need some cash

c/It prolongs your involvement in the whole affair.

 

It wont harm to start looking for a new place, if it is someone within the complex it is highly unlikely they will develop a conscience and cease looking for opportunistic gain.

 

STH

[Guest]

Hi Sarisin,

Although i have not been robbed in Thailand I can understand how you feel. I was burgled in Australia about 5 years ago whilst i was on a 2 week vacation. The rotten buggers managed to clean me right out of everything even my clothes as they knew they had time on their side and had set stuff aside for a return trip but must have been disturbed.

 

The worst part is that you end up being suspicious of everyone. I know i was suspicious of neighbours, friends who knew i was away, and anyone who happened to drive up the street. When i returned from holiday i moved what was left of my possessions and found a new place as i couldnt bear to be in that house again.

 

As for the police..they were for the most part disinterested. And i know i became security mad after that to the point of at one stage having 3 guard dogs.

 

the bitter feeling, suspicion and disapointment will last a while but you will bounce back in time.

Good luck

 

[Guest]

Sounds awful what happened. I didnt like the attitude of the police. I would have flipped if they had made jokes about what happened. I dont think its anything to do with sanuk, they were probably just taking the piss.

 

This reinforces my idea that when things go wrong in Thailand it often feels like the whole country is against you.

 

As for paying the police, I do understand why you dont want to. However, if some of your valuables are of sentimental value then maybe you should consider offering an 'award' for their return. Money is replaceable but items from loved ones are not.

 

My mother had her house broken into years back, and while nothing was taken because there was nothing of value, it deeply affected her. To the extent that she wasnt happy until she moved. I would say the feelings will pass. Remember, anger is a more positive and useful emotion than despair.

 

Maybe you should rig your safe up to the electric mains. That way if the thieves try it again they will get a surprise.

 

 

 

[chuckwoww]

You have my sympathies. I nearly got mugged in Pattaya last year. First major encounter with crime after over 20 years of coming to Thailand. It shook me up. You'll get over it but things will never be the same. Not much help.....Chuck

[Guest]

Hi there Sarisin,

 

I'm really sorry to hear that story and especially as you had only moved there recently. I'll bet you wish now that you hadn't moved.

 

I just want to reinfore the posts that have said it can happen anywhere. I came home on the last day of the semester about this time last year feeling very pleased with my latest assignment results and ready to celebrate the end of term that night. I opened the door to my house and saw my whole life scattered all over the floor, my bed had even been upturned and when I went into the kitchen they had even turned the fridge and freezer upside down. God did I feel that it had been a big mistake to move to Australia, I hated everything about Australia and have since read many stories in the local paper saying Perth is the burglary capital of the World. Everyone lives in bungalows here so really easy to break into.

 

For several weeks I felt just like you do I kept hearing funny noises at night and every little sound like the thermostat on the kettle readjusting woke me up.

 

However it does and will pass for you. Do not let this one person, (it was only one in my case and people even saw him leaving), taint your positive image of the Thai people and spoil your happy life in BKK.

 

As far as advice goes I offer two ideas: the first is probably not one you will consider but that is get a flatmate or a live in GF. I have done that and it makes a huge difference to my feeling happy in my home.

 

The second is to make sure that everyone else in the building knows that you have been burgled. If I remember correctly you live in a big block, put up a notice in English and Thai asking for information and whether anyone saw anything.

 

Make it very obvious and warn everyone about another burglary happening to them. If it was an inside job then the guilty party will see the notice and maybe get nervous and give away some info but it also reduces the risk of it ever happening again and it puts everyone in the building on notice.

 

If there is no general notice board in the lobby post a letter into all the mail boxes of the residents. In fact that might be better as it might mean you get more info.

 

By the way, the Perth forensic police arrived at my house 7 hours after I phoned saying they were too busy at other

burglaries. So it does not just happen in Thailand.

 

Can you image the look on my face when I opened my front door on that fateful day and saw all my personal stuff lying on the floor in front of me......... including all the photos of girls I had taken in Thailand over the years, naked girls, girls in uniform, girls in massage parlours... my whole perverted life was before me in a heap on the floor. The very first thing I had to do was quickly crawl around and pick up all my pornographic photos off the floor before the police arrived. I had just finished when they turned up.

 

I have not forgotten my experience but I have got over it, and the insurance company in my case paid up quickly and I was out of there two weeks later enroute to guess where.....BKK.

 

Deal with it, move on, and stay positive about Thailand.

 

Hope to see you at the convention on the 19/20th.

 

By the way I'm going to Angeles in January....... wanna come with me, you like it there.

 

Cheers

 

Uniformguy

[Guest]

I have no idea how much they got away with, but if it is a lot of dough, one thing the police should be looking for is lifestyle changes. Has anyone connected to the joint bought a home up country, a car, etc? I've noticed from Thai crimes in the news they tend to instantly spend and stand out like a sore thumb and get caught.

 

Again, if the value was high, would the police be interested in setting up a sting? Is there a vacant unit or if you move out could they simulate a farang moving in with a big floor standing vault and taking a vacation right away? That is if the police can provide effective surveillance like wiring a motion detector to ring them. A camera alone is not always good as it may be found and taken unless the images are being streamed onto the internet.

 

That's spooky for sure. Due to the highly probable inside job, I would hope the police owe AT LEAST enough to get prints of every roaming worker and every resident on your floor. Even if it doesn't find them, at least you can feel better about the people around you.

 

[pattaya127]

this is a tough one. The reason why i am not buying a house so far, is because everyone one, thais and farangs, always passed the message that it is not a question of if but when it would be burglarized. There are tons of thais looking after the farangs weaknesses to prey on them. This definitely could be most 3rd world countries nowadays.

 

can you deal with it by differentiating between the telling experiences and people who were good to you in Thailand, vs these aspects of life in a country where a farang never quite belongs. a truth you certainly found out, very early in your stay.

Also, did these "inside' people know about the extent of your belongings and the presence of 2 safes? Isnt' there too much tempting and maybe encourage us to keep expensive items safely in a bank box, and live or pretend to live a thai lifestyle ?

I think this thread may be here for a while. there seems so much perception from farangs that thais should obligate us by adotping our sense of ethics from the west, which they rarely do. This may be no consolation, but nothing about Thailand has really changed, only "your" Thailand.

Sorry if that sounds wise-ass, but I meant my comments to be taken outside of your own ordeal, which i wish sincerely you could have been spared from. Cordially