Bangkokgo - TOURIST Safety news

2008 NEWS FROM THAILAND

Tuesday February 27, 2007 The Nation Source

SUVARNABHUMI BAGGAGE THEFTS

Foreign thieves target travellers Police urge passengers to be careful with baggage after surge inthefts Police yesterday warned passengers at Suvarnab-humi Airport not to leave their baggage unattended as a motley group of thieves comprising mainly foreigners have been targeting travellers.There have been Filipinos, Indonesians, Chinese, Laotians and Peruvians caught stealing at the airport, police said. The tourist-service unit at the airport received 415 theft reports from tourists since the airport began full commercial services in late
September. Reported thefts at Suvarnabhumi had climbed from just nine inSeptember to 54 in October, 72 in November, 101 in December and 114 in January.Of these, 152 concerned items that went missing at the airport, 152 were items lost on board flights and 101 involved possessions goingmissing outside the terminal buildings. "Keep an eye on your belongings and avoid putting cash or credit cards in your baggage," Lt-Colonel Thammawat Hirunyalekha of the airport's tourist centre said yesterday.He said police recently arrested a Laotian who had confessed that he would spend nights inside the terminal watching out for unattended bags. "When we searched his Bangkok apartment, we found many travellers' bags, digital cameras and notebook computers," Thammawat said. There were Filipino, Indonesian, Chinese and Peruvian thieves in the airport too, Thammawat said. He said Chinese thieves usually pick-pocketed while criminals of other nationality tended to mingle with crowds waiting to check in and snatched unguarded bags. "These thieves usually target Japanese tourists because they often keep cash and credit cards in their unattended bags," Thammawat said. He said the Chinese thieves appeared to work as a gang because when they were caught, they would be bailed fast. "We sometimes arrest people twice at the airport after they have sneaked back to China and changed their names before returning," he said. Lt-Colonel Pakapong Sai-ubon, of the Police Immigration Bureau, said some criminals flew into the airport purely to steal valuables from other passengers. "They usually fly from trading cities like Hong Kong and grab the bags of their targets," he said. Pol Lt-Colonel Satit Prom-utai of the Tourism Division hoped the
Immigration Bureau would blacklist foreign thieves caught at the airport. "We will ask the Immigration Bureau to blacklist them," he said. According to passenger complaints, some items were also stolen from luggage after it had been checked in. Complaints have become less frequent, however, since the Airports of Thailand stepped up safety measures along the baggage-belt zones. Suvarnabhumi Airport director Serirat Prasutanont said the airport was working closely with police in a bid to ensure safety. "We will add more security cameras," he said.

MAY 2008 THEFTS CONTINUE AT

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT BANGKOK THAILAND

There are many touts around the doors of the airport and do not use them as they are touts and unlicensed. Use the proper taxis and get a chit from the tables outside the departure lounge. The cost into Bangkok is now 400 baht plus 50 baht extra for the drivers. If going out to the airport from Bangkok many taxis will not use the meter and charge you 400 baht standard fee. Tell them Ok if they pay the tolls and this should be Ok for you. If they want more money for luggage don't pay --just ignore. Make sure the meter is on? you pay the tolls normally unless you have agreed before departure that the taxi driver pays.

The authorities turn a blind eye to all the Thais hanging around the entrance ways trying to rip off foreigners. This month Police arrested a couple --Thai lady with foreign Beirut Arab man who paid to fly some place then went around to the arrival carousel and stole foreigners bags while in the process or changed their bags for others as they came onto the conveyor belt. They had been doing this for some time until finally caught. Also this month arrests of baggage staff also happened so if you lose your bags report it and keep your eye open for touts. This is an ongoing problem so never keep your valuables even in the left luggage as staff have been known to steal from your bags. Watch out if accosted by so called security poeple wanting to search you. They work in 2s or 3s & if they cannot show ID then make a loud fuss & seek help at any Airport desk. Even those in uniforms have been found to be fake.

LIST OF SCAMS AT SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

WHO TO MAKE A REPORT TO

 

TAXI DRIVERS GET TO DEMAND NEW FARE TARIFF

Licensed taxi drivers are demanding a revised fare structure and are defending their strike at Suvarnabhumi airport last Thursday. Legal taxi driver Pathaweee Meerat said the continuing presence of illegal operators at both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports is forcing registered drivers to demand verbally agreed fares for long-distance trips instead of using meters. Drivers working at Suvarnabhumi airport went on strike on Thursday, calling for changes to the new taxi fare structure imposed on June 18 for metered taxis. They said the new metered fare was unfair when making long-distance trips from the airports to provinces other than Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani. The Transport Ministry on Friday agreed to let taxi drivers bargain with passengers for inter-provincial trips. But the permission will not be granted permanently until the transport minister signs a regulation excluding long-distance trips from the ministry's taxi fare regulation.The permission will be temporary, as authorities are working out a new fare structure for long-distance trips to the provinces.Legal taxi drivers accuse illegal operators of snatching passengers from them, causing them to lose income.They said they had tried in vain to bring the matter to the attention of executives of the airport since Suvarnabhumi opened two years ago, but the problem continues. Illegal taxi drivers were criticised for damaging the country's image and the reputation of legal cabbies by overcharging foreign tourists.One licensed driver said the illegal taxi problem had not been tackled seriously because authorities and influential figures were involved. Bangkok Post Oct 4th 2008

TRUST NOONE AT THE AIRPORT AND WATCH FOR TOUTS AND THOSE OFFERING TAXIS INSIDE THE AIRPORT. Oct 2008 there are now more touts loitering around the entrance doors and inside so avoid them and go direct to the Taxi queue areas.But in 2009 Sept the airport authorities have got better and kicked the touts out???

 

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BANGKOK SAFETY PROBLEMS Beware of pickpockets on overcrowded public transportation and markets etc like Chatuchuk. Avoid going to a strange place with few people and when using ATMs and banks keep an eye around you for who may be watching you. In taxis try to remember the number on the window sill. Carry copies of your passport. Taking taxis are safe but always use the meter and if the driver says its broken down don't believe him. Try to avoid touts and go to the main roads to hail a cab. Try and remember the number of the cab which is noirmally on the doors. Do not look rich with jewelry.

Emergency Phone Numbers are — Mobile Police, 191; Fire Brigade, 199; Ambulance, 252-2171; Tourist Assistance Centre, 281-5051 or 282-8129.
Telephone: The country telephone code for Thailand is 66, Bangkok city code is 2. The number 1 or 01 in front of a number indicates that it’s a mobile phone and all mobile phones changed as at Dec1st 2006 and now the dial number is 08--etc. Dial 13 for Directory Assistance, and be patient if you need an English speaker. International calls are now possible in public telephone booths and they are clearly marked in English. Time/Temperature—Time, phone 181. Weather, 398-9830.

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