2 murders, 2 stabbings, 1 electrocution - just another day in Phuket

[ATMwalking]

Again, I don't know if the reporting style has changed or if there are real issues.

More tourists getting hurt won't help. For sure the murder/violent-crime rate is much much higher than the multi-million person city that i lived in before being here.

Today's Headlines

Incendiary behavior sparks murder at Saphan Hin

Mystery body surfaces in Klong Tha Chin

Dutch tourist stabbed near Downtown Market

Five arrests in teen-stabbing case

Police investigate case of electrocuted Swede

Phuket Gazette - online English newspaper for Phuket, Thailand, with daily news, classified ads, yellow pages, business listings, upcoming events, event calendar, phuket events

[norrie]

phuket gazette makes grim reading sometimes,not good for the tourists for sure.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

For sure the murder/violent-crime rate is much much higher than the multi-million person city that i lived in before being here.

I often hear people saying how Phuket is so much less crime than back home, or its over reported, or one of many other excuses but like you I think the vioent crime is far higher that I experienced in large towns (larger in population) and small cities back home.

Secondly when it comes to break ins, even if theres less break ins (which I dont think is true) if farang homes are the break in targets, and theres only X amount of farangs in a community then the % chance of being broken into is that much higher.

I dont much mind and dont feel under pressure (Indo is much worse) but do think that the apologists really do have some of Mav's specs.

[DREW]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Again, I don't know if the reporting style has changed or if there are real issues.


Today's Headlines

Phuket Gazette - online English newspaper for Phuket, Thailand, with daily news, classified ads, yellow pages, business listings, upcoming events, event calendar, phuket events

I read this and was Alarmed by the Scenes in one of the Storys which appears to show a 'Bob The Builder Convention getting ready to patrol the streets of Phuket.

This coming on the back of the Gay Pride march at the opening of High Season;

what next a YMCA tourist Police Campaign with Cowboy Costumes and dodgy Characters with big mustaches and leather trousers with their seats missing.

soon those PA Vans carrying the Mai Thai Boxers will be replaced by Sailors and Constructions workers beckoning you to join them in a chorus of

'Young Man I was once in your Shoes'', ''YMCA'' and ''In The Navy'' at deafening volumes.

This is the real shocking story that no Media wishes to publish and we all need to be on our guard against it.

It makes one feared to leave the safety of ones Hotel Compound.

Drew

[Minder]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

.... For sure the murder/violent-crime rate is much much higher than the multi-million person city that i lived in before being here.....

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As we settled into our seats on Qantas flight QF78 to depart Singapore just on a week ago...the wife surprised me by saying "Now I can feel safe again...home soon." No, we were heading BACK to Australia and had just finished 10 days in Thailand, 5 of those in BKK. Her "home" is Australia and she says it is where she feels safe.

She worries about her family and in particular her sisters in Bangkok and her family say the number of assaults and robberies has increased in recent years. They are also troubled by the higher level of violence that seems to be associated with most robberies with people being robbed ("mugged") and then murdered for no reason other than to cover up the crime. None of the in-laws will wear gold chains in public for fear of being robbed. Just another day in a working class suburb of Bangkok I guess.

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"Heaven holds a sense of wonder...and I wanted to believe..."

[ATMwalking]

Based on my random subjective observations when talking with Thais it seems two things are at play.

Thais are really starting to feel the inflationary pressures. Everything costs more and they are not making any more.

Thai parents are working crazy hours to try and make money while totally ignoring thier kids.

@Minder
You make a great point. My GF never mentioned anything security related when we were abroad. But since we have been back she mentions something nearly everyday.

Now, the stray soi dogs have gone from being pests needing to be poisoned, to the new soi guard dogs. Thinking is they know who actually lives on the soi (and know the cars and bikes). Some of the thai ladies had a talk with them after the last break-in. The dogs are now very good with only barking loudly at strangers at night. Daytime or if they know the people/bike/car then no barking. Honestly it's true. So they've been getting more scraps lately.

[LivinLOS]

Another stabbing of a tourist during a failed bag snatch.

[Minder]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Based on my random subjective observations when talking with Thais it seems two things are at play.

Thais are really starting to feel the inflationary pressures. Everything costs more and they are not making any more.

Thai parents are working crazy hours to try and make money while totally ignoring thier kids. .

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My equally random and highly subjective observations concur.....prices are going up and money is tighter.....shopping centres we went back to, Bang Na Central, Seri Centre, Seacon square and even Pratunam were as quiet as I can remember....lots of annoyance to with the current Government for seemingly not getting on with anything except chasing and blaming Thaksin...
if crime really is on the rise then I would not be surprised....
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"Heaven holds a sense of wonder...and I wanted to believe..."

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Another stabbing of a tourist during a failed bag snatch.

Dutch tourist stabbed near Downtown Market

PHUKET CITY (Kom Chad Luek/Gazette): A Dutch tourist is recovering in Bangkok Phuket Hospital after being stabbed twice by a knife-wielding thief outside the Downtown Market on Ranong Rd last night.

The tourist, 51-year-old Thomas De Klerk, was shopping at the market with his wife Maria Kroezen at the time of the attack, staff at the hospital told the Gazette.

The victim and his wife were loading goods into a tuk-tuk about 50 meters from the entrance to the market at about 10:30 pm when the thief ran up and ripped the victim’s fanny pack from around his waist.

Mr De Klerk gave chase and caught up with the man. The pair were fighting for possession of the pack when the thief pulled out a knife and stabbed De Klerk twice, once in the left hand and once in the abdomen, slicing through his bladder.

The thief then fled with the bag, which contained 20 euros in cash, a camera, credit card, cosmetics and other personal effects, the victim told Phuket City Police.

Mr De Klerk described his attacker as an Asian man about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a long-sleeved, collarless t-shirt and a hat.

Darkness and the speed at which everything happened made it impossible for him to give a more accurate description, he told police.

The victim was rushed to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, where he remains in the ICU.

Staff at the hospital said De Klerk and his wife were on a one-week holiday, staying at the Andaman Beach Resort in Patong.

The couple were scheduled to fly out on December 1, but will now stay on the island until Mr De Klerk is strong enough to travel, hospital staff said.

Remarkably, the latest victim in a protracted wave of violence against foreign tourists in Thailand said he still felt good about Phuket.

Hospital staff quoted him as saying that such unfortunate events can happen anytime, anywhere.

Phuket City Police Superintendent Nos Svettalekha told the Gazette this morning that a reported round-up of about 100 Burmese laborers from the same general area where the stabbing took place was unrelated to the attack on De Klerk.

[TV Channel 11]

MiniVDO: Phuket police are confident of bringing in to justice soon a culprit who robbed and stabbed a Dutchman.

To see or download mini-video, go to ThaisNews

An Inspector from Phuket City Police visited and questioned Thomas De Klerk, a 51 years old Dutch national, who is now being hospitalized at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. The man was stabbed resulting in two wounds, one on his left rib and one on his left arm, by a robber while Mr De Klerk and his wife went shopping at a down town market in the city’s heart. The incident happened on 25th November and the man is now recovering. Police also questioned his wife who was with him. Both of them provided useful information for officers, including the culprit’s appearance. Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit who paid special attention to the case, instructed police to speed up the investigation and bring the wrong-doer to justice as it was a serious crime which affects the public and tourists’ confidence. The victim said after the incident he was well taken care of by all parties concerned.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Thursday 29 November 2007 & Êӹѡ¢èÒÇ ¡ÃÁ»ÃЪÒÊÑÁ¾Ñ¹¸ì......ThaisNews »ÃШÓÇѹ¾ÄËÑʺ´Õ·Õè 29 ¾ÄȨԡÒ¹ 2550

[Minder]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Dutch tourist stabbed near Downtown Market

The victim and his wife were loading goods into a tuk-tuk about 50 meters from the entrance to the market at about 10:30 pm when the thief ran up and ripped the victim’s fanny pack from around his waist.

Mr De Klerk gave chase and caught up with the man..... ...the thief pulled out a knife and stabbed De Klerk twice, once in the left hand and once in the abdomen, slicing through his bladder.

The thief then fled with the bag, which contained 20 euros in cash, a camera, credit card, cosmetics and other personal effects....
The victim was rushed to Bangkok Phuket Hospital, where he remains in the ICU......
.

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Getting stabbed over a thousand baht in cash and a few insured personal effects .... I'd be feeling pretty stupid as I lay there looking at the ceiling with tubes running out of most of my orifices....a holiday to remember.

Hindsight is always 20/20....a fairly brazen robbery, armed robbery since he had a knife and was prepared to use it…seems so artless and unrefined in a country that is infamous for parting you from your money in a 1000 far more subtle ways...anyone anywhere can "mug" you, I've come to expect something better when in Thailand....

Somebody snatches your bag and runs....instinct is to chase....we'd all do it...hard to believe this 51 year old was able to catch up to the crook....heck, I'm younger and lately doubt I'd catch one of those blind karaoke singer teams if they got a few metres head start....

IMO...it is not that you stop thinking for a moment but rather it is how quickly you start thinking clearly again that matters....I'd hope I'd have the presence of mind to give up the chase, shout something like "please just leave me my leprosy medicine" and get back to the wife; just in case this was a decoy and his partners were really after the tuk-tuk full of gear and the wife's jewelry, money etc.

This guy cornered a rat and the rat bit him as rat’s do...a good example of how NOT to handle the situation....he has my sympathy but not my respect. Enjoy.
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"Heaven holds a sense of wonder...and I wanted to believe..."

[The Loop]

Originally Posted by Minder

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This guy cornered a rat and the rat bit him as rat’s do...a good example of how NOT to handle the situation....he has my sympathy but not my respect. Enjoy.
[/i]

Well said M,self defence is an instinct and is recognised by the law.
None of us go out thinking that we are going to be violated in some way,but these rats know that there is a chance someone is going to get hold of them and beat the crap outta them.Thats why they carry a weapon.

My advice would be not to take more money or belongings than you really need when out and about.

As far as chasing them goes,you are putting your own personal safety at risk.IMO

This issue was discussed in another thread.

[keith67]

Originally Posted by Minder

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Getting stabbed over a thousand baht in cash and a few insured personal effects .... I'd be feeling pretty stupid as I lay there looking at the ceiling with tubes running out of most of my orifices....a holiday to remember.

This guy cornered a rat and the rat bit him as rat’s do...a good example of how NOT to handle the situation....he has my sympathy but not my respect. Enjoy.

Strange thought.....what do you think would be better just hand everything over to them and walk away so that they can then sit there and think how easy that was and go looking for the next "easy target", my thoughts are that at least now he may think twice about doing this kind of thing again, although this guy has not earned your respect he may have made your next shopping experience a little less problematic so that maybe you can enjoy.

[MajorTom]

Originally Posted by wanttogobacknow

Strange thought.....what do you think would be better just hand everything over to them and walk away so that they can then sit there and think how easy that was and go looking for the next "easy target", my thoughts are that at least now he may think twice about doing this kind of thing again, although this guy has not earned your respect he may have made your next shopping experience a little less problematic so that maybe you can enjoy.

Exactly my thoughts
Not saying I would be brave enough in a given situation, but this guy gets a lot of respect from me anyway.

[Sirgezza]

Originally Posted by wanttogobacknow

Strange thought.....what do you think would be better just hand everything over to them and walk away so that they can then sit there and think how easy that was and go looking for the next "easy target", my thoughts are that at least now he may think twice about doing this kind of thing again, although this guy has not earned your respect he may have made your next shopping experience a little less problematic so that maybe you can enjoy.

Or maybe next time he will stab the person first and then take the wallet, saves him taking any chances.

[Minder]

Originally Posted by wanttogobacknow

Strange thought.....what do you think would be better just hand everything over to them and walk away so that they can then sit there and think how easy that was and go looking for the next "easy target", my thoughts are that at least now he may think twice about doing this kind of thing again, although this guy has not earned your respect he may have made your next shopping experience a little less problematic so that maybe you can enjoy.

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Way to go wanttogobacknow...you are saying you would have done the same? ...then by all means you can lay there in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit and tell yourself "I sure showed him."

but...I"ll still think it ended badly for the victim.

The crook on the other hand got some cash and valuables and nothing to deter him from doing it again.

Do anyone seriously think this crook in now LESS likely to resort to using a knife next time?

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"Heaven holds a sense of wonder...and I wanted to believe..."

[LivinLOS]

While I can agree it didnt turn out good for the victim you cant use one example as a case for everything.. Random chance effects that too much.

You never know how you will react (if its in the instinctive) and certainly its wiser to try to use your head a bit when out of your element. But I too would find it (very) hard to do nothing or hand over a wallet without resistance.

[Minder]

Originally Posted by MajorTom

Exactly my thoughts
Not saying I would be brave enough in a given situation, but this guy gets a lot of respect from me anyway.

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I'd hope that you'd have the common sense to be well-informed enough to avoid the "given situation" in the first place - or maybe you to are another mug tourist dying to play "volunteer victim" for some predatory lowlife late at night in a seedy part of town in a foreign country - if so, then it won't take long for you to get your chance to see how "brave" you are. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

While I can agree it didnt turn out good for the victim you cant use one example as a case for everything.. Random chance effects that too much.

You never know how you will react (if its in the instinctive) and certainly its wiser to try to use your head a bit when out of your element. But I too would find it (very) hard to do nothing or hand over a wallet without resistance.

Yes, the instinctive part is when someone graps your property and runs as was the case here...you run after them....we all would....and hopefully after a few steps you would come to your senses and weigh up the situation....charging into the dark, in an unknown area after someone who is likely to be armed with at least a knife....it is not brave...it is stupid....and yes, hindsight is always 20/20.

Your level of resistance should be dictated by the circumstances....saying you would resist no matter what is just nonsense.....and I hope I don't have to point a gun at you to prove my case. Enjoy.





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"Heaven holds a sense of wonder...and I wanted to believe..."

[MajorTom]

I don't think beeing well informed prevents people from being robbed.

I would probably have a different look at this as a tourist, but i have chosen to live in a 3rd world country - with the risks that involves. I can't start handing out wallets as soon as someone says "boo"
Theres a difference between that and having a gun pointed at you offcourse, and on that scale some people are more "brave" or "stupid" than others. Call it whatever you want.

[Sirgezza]

There is another thread on this board about a Norwegian guy being beaten and getting pepper sprayed in the face. I couldn't understand why a customer would be walking around with a can of pepper spray - now I see why.