Central Scrutinizer Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Tourists Robbed on Bus By Richard Barrow Wednesday 14th January, 2009 On the radio this morning, I heard a news report about thirty foreign and Thai tourists who were robbed by their bus crew and then later abandoned by the side of the road. Apparently they were on their way from Krabi to Khao San Road in Bangkok when the bus stopped for a toilet break at a petrol station. When one of the passengers came back from the toilet he noticed the bus crew rifling their bags. He informed the other passengers and told them to check their bags. They then realized that some valuables had been stolen. The crew then abandoned them and ran off. When I heard this, I thought that maybe the news team had played an old tape accidentally. Just a few months ago, in November, the exact same thing happened. This time they were going from Chiang Mai to Khao San Road. The passengers this time were sleeping. When they woke up, they discovered over 150,000 baht of valuables stolen. They confronted the bus crew who then abandoned them by the side of the road in Ayutthaya province. This kind of thing is becoming so common here in Thailand. These two incidents were reported in the newspapers only because the passengers were abandoned and the tourists filed a police report. Over at www.BangkokScams.com we receive many reports of tourists being drugged or having their belongings stolen on long distance bus trips. However, some people don't find out until much later when it s too late. Many of these robberies are connected to private companies operating out of Khao San Road. Our advice to you is NOT to book any bus tours on Khao San Road as we have received so many bad reports about many of them. But instead go to the appropriate bus terminals and book your tickets there. If you book on Khao San Road, make sure you use a company which other people have recommended and found to be reliable. If you have witnessed a scam in Thailand, please report it at www.BangkokScams.com. By sharing your knowledge, we can help more people to be street savvy and to enjoy their holiday in Thailand. http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php/2009/01/14/tourists-robbed-on-bus?blog=5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 this happens often back in the 80s including daze and ambush. Remembers me when back in the 80s, we get filmed and an officer with a assault weapon protect the passengers during the travel to the South. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Seems it is still happening. Imagine how many people on that bus told others once home about this. A real good deal for Thai tourism 'ey? :smirk: And it seems this isn't an isolated case. The police might be wise to crack down on these Khao Sahn Road private 'bus tour' companies. Extremely scummy stuff for a tourism dependent country to let happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexi Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Ive often thought the practice of stowing luggage in the side of the bus ( under where the passengrs sit )is a bit dubious....when the bus stops on route to let someone off,they could take any bag they fancy....dont think the attendant checks this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 My previous gf had this once. We went to Chiang Mai and at a stop I said to her: I think someone is walking away with your bag. She said no .... no-one would do that. In Chiang Mai her bag was gone but another very similar bag was left over. Case of someone mistakingly taking the wrong bag. .... luckily there were only clothes in her bag. I actually had quite the opposite once. I had forgotten a bag with cd's in a bar once. When I came back the next day it was still at the same table I had sat at the night before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 When I first read this, I thought it was charging a higher price then the price on the ticket. Like, who looks at the ticket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Yes ...the TAT doesn't need any of this ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soongmak Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Loved to read some of the scams. I thought the ATM scam was a classic! Read here for some real entertainment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I guess the bus crew is no longer spiking the drinks they give out so passengers go to sleep so they can rob them. At least that was a popular story not too long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldFun Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 soongmak, unfuckingbeliable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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