Songkran: Worried about leaving your place empty in the holidays? - police recommend "OBS"

[webfact]

 

Thai Rath reported on the pronouncements of the chief of the Royal Thai Police through his spokeswoman yesterday.

 

Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk gave the annual pre-Songkran promise to protect the public, limit road accidents, help with traffic flow and prevent crime. 

 

This would be done nationwide, throughout the holidays for the benefit of the people said spokeswoman Witchayakorn.

 

The media highlighted the helpline (1193) for traffic updates and sending of pictures and traffic news. 

 

The RTP work takes place from today through April 17th. Tens of thousands of officers have been mobilized many on traffic duty as the mass exodus from the Bangkok to the countryside begins. 

 

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Amid the usual rhetoric Suwat had a new initiative for people worried about leaving their properties empty in the holidays and perhaps falling victim to burglary.

 

While Suwat said that houseowners could count on the police's usual efficiency in this matter they could also use the new "OBS" app for extra help.

 

Go into any police station for details. 

 

ASEAN NOW has been unable to verify what OBS stands for. We hope that the membership may be able to help. 

 

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[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

While Suwat said that houseowners could count on the police's usual efficiency in this matter

 

 

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

they could also use the new "OBS" app for extra help.

Erm....  Is he suggesting that home owners inform the largest organised criminal enterprise in Thailand that there will be no one home ???... 

 

Again....  

 

 

[bendejo]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Amid the usual rhetoric Suwat had a new initiative for people worried about leaving their properties empty in the holidays and perhaps falling victim to burglary.

While Suwat said that houseowners could count on the police's usual efficiency in this matter they could also use the new "OBS" app for extra help.

Go into any police station for details. 

Oh dear!

 

 

[ezzra]

That is all good and nice but who's gonna watch the watchers?...

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Erm....  Is he suggesting that home owners inform the largest organised criminal enterprise in Thailand that there will be no one home ???... 

The police look after my home when I'm away. 

 

 Why wouldn't you want them looking after you?

 

 

[Neeranam]

In Thailand, the police force are akin to one of the 'five families' in New York. 

The difference is that foreigners in the US integrate, socially adapt, and accept it; foreigners in Thailand don't, and instead bash the police at any given chance. Classic case of self-righteousness indignation. 

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

17 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Erm....  Is he suggesting that home owners inform the largest organised criminal enterprise in Thailand that there will be no one home ???... 

The police look after my home when I'm away. 

 

 Why wouldn't you want them looking after you?

 

They don’t look after your home while you are away.

You pay them to drive by your house once or twice a day and sign a card. 

 

Why wouldn’t I want the Thai Police to know I’m not at home.....  I wouldn’t want anyone else to know I’m not at home (except perhaps a trusted neighbour)... but specifically, I wouldn’t want the police to know...  an organisation of local blokes who believe they are above the law knowing that a foreigner (with money) will not be in his house for a while.... No thanks.  

 

If you don’t understand why, you are either naive and don’t read the news or you are being deliberately obtuse because you think I am Thai-bashing (in this case I am Thai Police bashing). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

In Thailand, the police force are akin to one of the 'five families' in New York. 

The difference is that foreigners in the US integrate, socially adapt, and accept it; foreigners in Thailand don't, and instead bash the police at any given chance. Classic case of self-righteousness indignation. 

This is obviously going to turn into a debate into the honesty of the Thai Police. 

 

IF you think the Thai Police are an honest organisation and don’t involve themselves in crime and corruption there really isn’t a starting ground for any discussion. 

 

 

 

[Neeranam]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

They don’t look after your home while you are away.

You pay them to drive by your house once or twice a day and sign a card. 

 

Why wouldn’t I want the Thai Police to know I’m not at home.....  I wouldn’t want anyone else to know I’m not at home (except perhaps a trusted neighbour)... but specifically, I wouldn’t want the police to know...  an organisation of local blokes who believe they are above the law knowing that a foreigner (with money) will not be in his house for a while.... No thanks.  

 

If you don’t understand why, you are either naive and don’t read the news or you are being deliberately obtuse because you think I am Thai-bashing (in this case I am Thai Police bashing). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police presence is a big deterrent for burglars, IMHO, especially when they(police) are fairly senior ones. 

 

Yes, the police are 'local', again IMHO, local people are better at looking after my home. Not sure what you are inferring here but I certainly wouldn't want a foreigner looking after my home. 

 

I don't often read the news, but know what's going on in the police force. As a foreigner, I think it much better for you to have local protection, rather than be an outcast; this is where the neighbours might resent you and be more likely to rob you. Assimilation is much better than partition. 

 

[Neeranam]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

IF you think the Thai Police are an honest organisation and don’t involve themselves in crime and corruption there really isn’t a starting ground for any discussion. 

 I never said anything of that sort. My point was corruption is everywhere, just in different guises.

When in Rome... and all that. If I was an immigrant in NYC, I would be foolish to refuse to cooperate with The Mob.

 

[brommers]

If you are leaving your house empty for days you should do what my neighbour, a senior RTP member does. He leaves the light on permanently in his upstairs toilet! Now that's a smart idea.

[The Hammer2021]

7 minutes ago, brommers said:

If you are leaving your house empty for days you should do what my neighbour, a senior RTP member does. He leaves the light on permanently in his upstairs toilet! Now that's a smart idea.

Yeah burglars don't  know people don't have s***s that take ten days.

It's a dumb idea. A couple of timer switches  to turn lights on and off in different  room is better also  playing a talk radio station.  BUT in the UK the current generation  of burglars don't  care if people are  at home

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Erm....  Is he suggesting that home owners inform the largest organised criminal enterprise in Thailand that there will be no one home ???... 

 

Yes, I had a similar thought..... it's like telling the security guy on the gatehouse you will be away!

[RichardColeman]

I - or my Mrs - will sit in anybody's condo for a week for 5,000 baht !  I'm not proud !!

[Photoguy21]

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

In Thailand, the police force are akin to one of the 'five families' in New York. 

The difference is that foreigners in the US integrate, socially adapt, and accept it; foreigners in Thailand don't, and instead bash the police at any given chance. Classic case of self-righteousness indignation. 

Many of the expats on here complain about everything. From my point of view I have never had any reason to complain about things. Maybe I have just been lucky but being here for over 35 years I doubt if luck has anything to do with it. I just get on with people.

[Doctor Tom]

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

Many of the expats on here complain about everything. From my point of view I have never had any reason to complain about things. Maybe I have just been lucky but being here for over 35 years I doubt if luck has anything to do with it. I just get on with people.

I had many more problems and issues in the UK and the US than I have ever had here.  Its a location of calm and pleasantness in comparison. Yes Thailand has its frustrations, but so do all other places and usually they are much more irritating. 

[Photoguy21]

1 minute ago, Doctor Tom said:

I had many more problems and issues in the UK and the US than I have ever had here.  Its a location of calm and pleasantness in comparison. Yes Thailand has its frustrations, but so do all other places and usually they are much more irritating. 

Totally agree with you

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

I had many more problems and issues in the UK and the US than I have ever had here.  Its a location of calm and pleasantness in comparison. Yes Thailand has its frustrations, but so do all other places and usually they are much more irritating. 

Every situation is individual and based on its individual merits - There is a lot here that is better than the west, other things worse. In balance we are here in Thailand because we prefer it (or don't want to pay the high tax in our home countries !).

 

Would we tell the police we are going away in the UK ?.... No, of course not, the idea is preposterous. 

 

Why tell the police in Thailand ?... through some misguided belief that they will protect our house (they don't BTW, they just drive buy).

 

But, the police force in Thailand do not have the best reputation for honesty and accountability, the don’t have the best reputation for following the law themselves, it could be argued that Thai Policemen behave in a manner which would suggest they believe they are beyond the law. 

 

So.. why would anyone tell a group of people who are potentially dishonest that they are going to leave their house empty for a few weeks / months.

 

---------

 

Now, lets get down to the nuts and bolts... People paying for the BiB to look after their house. 

Thats not what it really is.... Its paying the BiB a tax...  a tax to respond IF something happens and you need to call them.  IF you don’t pay the ‘community patrol fee’ (or whatever its called), thats fine, its voluntary, but you may find damage occurring to your property, broken window etc...  

Don’t shoot the messenger - Thai’s have told me this.

Its the same as paying the guy on the street who comes along and tells you it costs 20 baht to park there, of course, there’s no such fee. But what happens when you refuse? you go away and come back to find your car has a flat tyre. 

 

 

 

 

 

[jerrymahoney]

All I will say is that, if any burglar broke into my house while i was not at home, they would be very disappointed.

[freedomnow]

8 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

All I will say is that, if any burglar broke into my house while i was not at home, they would be very disappointed.

could make off with the window mosquito mesh at least.

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the new "OBS" app

ASEAN NOW has been unable to verify what OBS stands for. We hope that the membership may be able to help. 

OBS - Online Burglary Service

"Tell us when you are not at home, and we make sure you get robbed."

[jerrymahoney]

2 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

could make off with the window mosquito mesh at least.

I put away a couple of old but working PC laptops and leave out quite visible a couple of older PC laptops that have had motherboard failures that are theirs for the taking.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Pol Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk gave the annual pre-Songkran promise to protect the public, limit road accidents, help with traffic flow and prevent crime. 

????

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

The police look after my home when I'm away. 

 

 Why wouldn't you want them looking after you?

 

 

I want to keep my silver.

[freedomnow]

12 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

I put away a couple of old but working PC laptops and leave out quite visible a couple of older PC laptops that have had motherboard failures that are theirs for the taking.

That's like the dummy wallet trick ...but with computers.

[connda]

We ain't going anywhere.  Staying at home in the village during Songkran is just fine. 

 

[humqdpf]

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

Erm....  Is he suggesting that home owners inform the largest organised criminal enterprise in Thailand that there will be no one home ???... 

 

Again....  

 

 

I see your point. Of course, if it is made clear to the "largest organised criminal enterprise" that they are the only persons informed that the property is empty . . . .  but what am I saying . . .

[vandeventer]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, I had a similar thought..... it's like telling the security guy on the gatehouse you will be away!

Or why not put a sign on your gate saying I will be gone for 10 days, the doors are open. And I know how many bottles on beer there are in the the fridge.

[edwinchester]

Several years ago a friend of mine, in a nearby village, asked the local police to keep an eye on his house when he went back to his home country for a holiday. On his return the house had been ransacked. Even the electrical wiring and water piping had been stripped off of the walls. A wooden staircase had been dismantled.

I wouldn't trust one of Thailand's 'finest' as far as I could throw his Honda Click.

[Golden Triangle]

9 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Police presence is a big deterrent for burglars, IMHO, especially when they(police) are fairly senior ones. 

 

Yes, the police are 'local', again IMHO, local people are better at looking after my home. Not sure what you are inferring here but I certainly wouldn't want a foreigner looking after my home. 

 

I don't often read the news, but know what's going on in the police force. As a foreigner, I think it much better for you to have local protection, rather than be an outcast; this is where the neighbours might resent you and be more likely to rob you. Assimilation is much better than partition. 

 

So one minute you are Thai the next a foreigner, so which one is it ?