Indian national files complaint to Pattaya Police after 6,600 USD in cash allegedly went missing from a hotel’s safe box in Pattaya

[webfact]

 

By Nop Meechukhun

 

Banglamung, Chonburi – An Indian national, 45, filed a complaint to Pattaya City police on Saturday, October 8th, after US$6,600 cash, or about 250,000 Thai baht, was reportedly missing from his hotel’s electronic safe box.

The victim, Vivek Singhal, told Pattaya officials that he was staying at the room of a hotel since October 5th but on the 7th, he found that his money in the safe box, worth US$6,600 or equivalent to about 250,000 Thai baht, was gone.

 

The safe box was in a standard in-room device and not at a front desk or other location.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/10/09/indian-national-files-complaint-to-pattaya-police-after-6600-usd-in-cash-allegedly-went-missing-from-a-hotels-safe-box-in-pattaya/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-10-10

 

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[theshu25]

Another insauranc e  scam from the indians for sure.

[RichardColeman]

It was unclear if the victim had invited a man in dress visitors or more than one man in a dress guests into his room during the period of time that the money allegedly went missing.

[jaiyen]

Only seems to happen to Indians !

[2baht]

A hustle and a hustle there

Pattaya, Chonburi's the place where

They say, "Hey man, Take a walk on the wild side"!

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, theshu25 said:

Another insauranc e  scam from the indians for sure.

I've also had money taken from my hotel safe, in Malaysia. A couple of $100 bills were removed, leaving a couple of smaller notes in the hope, I imagine, that I wouldn't notice money was missing. The police refused to investigate, saying no local would steal such large bills as they'd arouse suspicion.

[Bangkok Barry]

11 minutes ago, jaiyen said:

Only seems to happen to Indians !

Who else comes to Pattaya these days? For now, anyway, until the constant stream of bad-luck stories circulate back home and Indians decide to give Thailand a miss. Then TAT can target, oh let's think, Iceland and Greenland for tourists. They're running out of options.

[sammieuk1]

When you use one of those in-room safes it saves the cleaners routing through your bags ????

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, theshu25 said:

Another insauranc e  scam from the indians for sure.

Maybe, maybe not! There have been plenty of thefts from room safes over the years. Someone will no doubt post a link to the video of one being opened by being hit with a potato soon!

Thais are often lackadaisical in this respect. A wayward son of a guest house owner has access to the pass key, or knows the override code, is all it takes.  (Or it is still 9999 even!).

Edited October 9, 2022 by jacko45k

[ezzra]

Why would a tourist need 250,000 baht to spend in Pattaya the article didn't say, could he be a business man? don't think so, some sort of a scam? probably, as some travel insurance policies cover lost cash as well...

[phetphet]

Most half decent hotels seem to have CCTV covering access to rooms nowadays. Should be easy to see if anyone entered the room.

 

 

[mikebell]

34 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Most half decent hotels seem to have CCTV

Do Indians stay in half decent hotels?

[TheFishman1]

Those in route safes are worthless you can pop out a piece of plastic on the front and they all have a master keye Or there is a code you can answer to override and open the safe I never use them and to keep large sums of money and those type of safes are very risky at best TIT

[micmichd]

52 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

When you use one of those in-room safes it saves the cleaners routing through your bags ????

Something I don't understand : How can anyone open a safe inside a room without the PIN code? 

[phetphet]

10 minutes ago, micmichd said:

Something I don't understand : How can anyone open a safe inside a room without the PIN code? 

Lots of ways, but if the hotel doesn't change the default master PIN makes it  very easy.

 

https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/hotel-room-safes-may-not-be-safe/

[Andrew Dwyer]

13 minutes ago, micmichd said:

Something I don't understand : How can anyone open a safe inside a room without the PIN code? 

The standard “ hotel room “ safes are notoriously easy to open with a sharp blow from a heavy object, plenty of YouTube video on the subject.

Even a potato !

 

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Andrew Dwyer

[Gottfrid]

Hey, the guy forgot to mention the 6 baht gold necklace that was beside the money.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Gottfrid

[sammieuk1]

25 minutes ago, micmichd said:

Something I don't understand : How can anyone open a safe inside a room without the PIN code? 

A master code or key maybe or how else can the hotel reset it ????

[spidermike007]

I always prefer to keep valuables is a locked luggage in the room. It is inconspicuous, and it is too easy to get into a hotel safe. 

[mjakob007]

Unfortunately for those keyboard warriors, majority of visitors to pattaya these days appear to be indians!

 

Most of those punters who allege xenophobia here, continue to do the same against Russians, Indians, Chinese, or anybody else who does not belong to the clan! 

 

Isnt it legit to possess upto to $10,000 for international travel for most countries. We see regular allegations of insurance scams being the intent behind the claim of losses. Have we heard of any claims being paid out for these claims in Pattaya?

 

Several years back, i forgot my wallet in the business center of a major hotel chain, realized the mistake rushed back in less than 5 min (biz center to room on elevator and realized i forgot the wallet downstairs) and found it was gone. Hotel did a sham of investigation and 'couldn't' find it, as that area of the biz centre was not covered by cctv.... and of course ins claim was denied.

[Darksidedude]

For sure this guy is doing a dodgy claim,

 

Hope he gets found out and full extent of the law thrown at him

[findlay13]

2 hours ago, jaiyen said:

Only seems to happen to Indians !

Yep Surprise Surprise.

 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

Those in route safes are worthless you can pop out a piece of plastic on the front and they all have a master keye Or there is a code you can answer to override and open the safe I never use them and to keep large sums of money and those type of safes are very risky at best TIT

I don't like to take all my cash, cards etc out with me too and the room safe is all that is on offer. Fortunately I have seen the rigmarole required to get into the room safe (of the hotel I normally use) as I made a mess of locking it once and couldn't remember what I keyed in. It was simply a matter of removing a small metal label to expose a pass key slot!.

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by jacko45k

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, theshu25 said:

Another insauranc e  scam from the indians for sure.

I don't think any travel insurance covers cash theft, otherwise many people would be claiming arbitrary amounts.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

The standard “ hotel room “ safes are notoriously easy to open with a sharp blow from a heavy object, plenty of YouTube video on the subject.

Fortunately these 999 Baht types are not standard in "half decent" hotels.

But yes there are master keys/override pins etc.

It all comes down to the trustworthyness if the hotel.

Never lost a Baht in 18 years. And not storing more cash than needed for a day. K Bank card always with me.

The real concern is the passport.

Sometimes I miss the old fashioned locker boxes at reception where you can bring your own locker.

 

And overall the story is fishy regarding the "visitors".

[KhunBENQ]

Just now, gearbox said:

I don't think any travel insurance covers cash theft, otherwise many people would be claiming arbitrary amounts.

My thought too and my guess is he opened the safe for a "cash donation" to his guest and then been distracted.

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why would a tourist need 250,000 baht to spend in Pattaya the article didn't say,

Tourists don't spend money?

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

48 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It was simply a matter of removing a small metal label to expose a pass key slot!.

Sure because batteries can run empty.

And needing a physical key is still better than every parking assistant knowing some master pin.

At good hotels only specially trusted staff have access or know how to open.

Sometimes can mean wait for the person.

For early checkout I open the safe before going to sleep.

Edited October 10, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[giddyup]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Why would a tourist need 250,000 baht to spend in Pattaya the article didn't say, could he be a business man? don't think so, some sort of a scam? probably, as some travel insurance policies cover lost cash as well...

There's usually a limit on cash, and it's normally pretty low.

[giddyup]

29 minutes ago, gearbox said:

I don't think any travel insurance covers cash theft, otherwise many people would be claiming arbitrary amounts.

Maybe he's under the illusion the hotel will reimburse him, either that or start a Gofundme post.