Faustian Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Amazing...they can bust a foreign gang, but seemingly fail to deal with the gangs working along/around Sukhumvit, presumably because they are Thai... The bit at the end in red is just so ironic... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/30104563/Gang-of-robbers-targeting-foreign-tourists-busted Gang of robbers targeting foreign tourists busted By Thanapat Kitjakosol, Noppadol Srithaweekard The Nation Published on June 8, 2009 Tourist police say they have broken up a "legshaking gang" targeting mainly tourists, who grab victims by the leg in a bagdropping pretence or a staged fight before getting away with their valuables. They were especially active in Bangkok's Silom and Bang Rak areas. Two Filipino men - Angor Roger Novo, 36, and Billionet Manni, 55 - were arrested on May 26 for robbing 54yearold Canadian Faramad Adadian of US$3,000 (Bt103,000)in cash, $3,000 in cashier cheques, and Bt1,000 in cash. Police arrested the duo as they were fighting with good Samaritans helping the victim at the mouth of Soi Silom 28. Other victims also identified the duo as their robbers. Police say that the duo, along with five other gang members, assaulted and robbed tourists by pretending to drop papers near the victim. They would then shake the victim's legs in a chaotic scene, while other gang members pocketed the victim's valuables. Then all would flee in taxis. One victim, jewellery businessman Thana Komenthiti, 59, told police he was robbed of Bt100,000 worth of valuables by five men while crossing Silom after withdrawing money from an ATM machine. Metropolitan Police Area 6 chief Major General Wittaya Rattanawit said the gang members came into Thailand on threemonth tourist visas before leaving and coming back to Thailand to commit the crimes. "Sometimes, they stun victims with an electric shock device or by applying psychedelic medicine to the victim's body before getting away with their valuables, often by taxi," he said. Wittaya said the gang lived in the Suparp Hotel in the Saphan Kwai area and operated for about a year in the city's other tourist areas. Three people had filed complaints to Yan Nawa police. Each said they had lost Bt100,000 worth of valuables. After the latest assault, on Wednesday, tourist police arrested Novo and Manni, another Filipino man and two Filipino women, along with a notebook and assets worth Bt100,000 from Ratchada Soi 3 in Din Daeng area. Deputy Tourist Police commander Colonel Yongkiat Monpranit said Tourist Police gave priority to this case after French tourist Sophia Yenepelliton, 49, lost gold ornaments worth Bt100,000 and Bt9,200 in cash to the gang at a Starbucks coffee outlet on Silom Road on March 18. The complaint was filed and the victim talked to TV news reporters, leading to the police investigation that found the gang's operation on the cafe's security camera footage. "The gang of about five or six members came into the cafe and chose to sit near the victim and pretended to read newspapers. While one member seated behind the victim grabbed the victim's purse on the floor by her foot, other members used newspapers as a cover, before escaping with her purse," he said. Police found the suspects had also pickpocketed tourists in Pratunam area. Two suspects found in Din Daeng were said to belong to a 10strong Filipino "legshaking gang" that had operated many times before, luring tourists to gambling games and taking their valuables, the officer said. [color:red]He expressed concern the gang had damaged Thailand's image.[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubsiam Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Tourist Police busted foreign tourist scammers for intruding on their turf is more like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLeakHunt Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 You're pulling my leg aren't you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubsiam Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 No, the Tourist Police are just like any other Police in Thailand. They have taken over the most lucrative scams.(according to a contact of mine at TAT) See this guy? http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2930069345_eb839cc891_o.jpg Him, and several others lurks in front of the TAT Info Booth on Silom. Threre is a gang of about 6 that control that corner and attempt to defraud every tourist that walks by. I asked the TAT employee why those people are allowed to hang out and scam tourists, in front of a TAT Info Booth? She says they have been here for years and the cooperate with the Tourist Police and I should be very careful. Now you know. More pictures of the Tourist Mafia on Silom Rd. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/sets/72157616886160455/ . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 The majority of the Tourist Police work in offices or at the airports, and are reasonably honest. It's when they put the TPs out on the streets where opportunity beckons that they become like all the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I did a visa run to Vientiane, Laos last week; the last few days of the free tourist visas Thailand has been handing out since March. The Consulate was packed, about five times the normal number of applicants. Most of them were from the Phillipines, probably 80%, I'd guess. The hotel where I stayed; about a ten minute walk from the Consulate was also packed with Phillipinos. I was kind of surprised, I didn't realize so many of them stayed in Thailand Over the years, I've had numerous encounters with Phillipino con-artists along Sukhumvit; usually an overly friendly approach: "Excuse me, do you speak English?" followed by some innocuous question: "Where can I change some Dollars" followed by more probing and inevitably; an invitation to their home. Their English is always good and they dress well. I notice them around Phrom Peung a lot. Friends who can afford Starbucks also report that Phillipinos hang around there, starting casual conversations and looking for unguarded bags. It's not a good idea, I'm told, to hang a laptop bag on a chairback. I've actually always been surprised at how few crimes seem to happen in the Tourist area of Sukhumvit aside from the Ladyboy pickpockets. I can not recall ever hearing about a mugging or robbery. I know there are a lot of plainclothes tourist police and I've been told that they can be pretty rough on troublemakers. I certainly feel safer on the streets of Bangkok than I do in any major American city, especially at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Yes ironic indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Got to pass for tourist visas again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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