Australian Tourist Allegedly Loses 200,000 Baht to Pickpocket on Pattaya Tour Bus

[webfact]

Pattaya —An Australian tourist expressed frustration after losing all his belongings and a large sum of money allegedly to a pickpocket on a tour bus while traveling to Pattaya to celebrate Loy Krathong.

On November 27th, around 4:30 PM, Mr. Jeevarass Palasunoram, an Australian tourist in his 30s, reported the incident to Pol. Lt. Col. Natchaphon Saengsi, Deputy Superintendent for investigation at Pattaya Police Station.

 

According to Mr. Jeevarass, he had taken an air-conditioned tour bus from Ekamai in Bangkok to Pattaya. Upon arriving in Pattaya around 4:30 PM, he discovered that his wallet, containing 9,500 Australian dollars (around 200,000 Thai baht), 1,500 Thai baht, and various documents, was missing from his backpack, which he had placed in the overhead compartment above his seat.

 

By Tanakorn Panyadee

PHOTO: รักสยาม นิวส์

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2023-11-29

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[petermik]

How the hell did he let that happen...fall asleep?

[still kicking]

An honest bus driver will return it.

[KhunBENQ]

And a friend always laughs about my "manbag" strapped around the shoulder and warming my belly.

Never would I put that much money and valuable documents in a backpack overhead.

In contrast to planes these overhead compartments have no door/lock that you notice when opened midflight.

If you sit at the window it can easy slip your attention in the bus.

Edited November 29, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

An honest bus driver will return it.

And you think the driver has stolen from the backpack while on the road or what?? Did you care to read and understand what happened even vaguely?

Edited November 29, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

And you think the driver has stolen from the backpack while on the road or what?? Did you care to read and understand what happened even vaguely?

I never said the driver has stolen it 

[Joe Farang]

My money and passport stays in my pocket while travelling.

[ezzra]

You'd think that when carrying so much money and important documents travailing on a public bus one would be extra vigilant and pay attention to his belonging, what made him think that the over head locker is safer then placing the bag on his knees where he can see it all the time?...

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

In contrast to planes these overhead compartments have no door/lock that you notice when opened midflight.

If you sit at the window it can easy slip your attention in the bus.

 

It's happened on planes too... 

 

https://viewfromthewing.com/new-travel-scam-stealing-from-passenger-bags-in-the-overhead/

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singapore-airlines-krisflyer/2130040-money-stolen-plane-singapore-airlines-where-go.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/04/travel/hong-kong-mid-air-theft/index.html

 

One has to be rather naive not to leave their baggage (stored in the overhead bin) unlocked when sleeping on a flight or a bus. 

[gearbox]

17 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

And a friend always laughs about my "manbag" strapped around the shoulder and warming my belly.

Never would I put that much money and valuable documents in a backpack overhead.

In contrast to planes these overhead compartments have no door/lock that you notice when opened midflight.

If you sit at the window it can easy slip your attention in the bus.

It is easy to get distracted or fall asleep in bus or plane. Years ago I had my Kindle stolen during my flight from KL to Kathmandu. The seat next to me was empty, I placed the Kindle there and started taking shots of mt Everest through the window, when I turned around the Kindle was gone.

Edited November 29, 2023 by gearbox

[Liverpool Lou]

16 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

19 minutes ago, still kicking said:

An honest bus driver will return it.

And you think the driver has stolen from the backpack while on the road or what?? Did you care to read and understand what happened even vaguely?

He didn't suggest that...did you care to read and understand what happened even vaguely?

[Liverpool Lou]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

One has to be rather naive not to leave their baggage (stored in the overhead bin) unlocked when sleeping on a flight or a bus. 

Huh?  I would have thought it naïve to leave the luggage unlocked! 

[KhunBENQ]

21 minutes ago, still kicking said:

I never said the driver has stolen it 

Maybe you can explain your idea of the event,

How did the bus driver get in possession?

[Pattaya57]

Seriously, who carries $9,500 cash in a backpack that he puts out of his sight anywhere in the World. Idiot!

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Huh?  I would have thought it naïve to leave the luggage unlocked! 

On a plane you can close but not lock the overhead storage, but it is not just for you, many people use the overhead storage, so they can and will open it a few times I always put it under the seat between my legs. 

[still kicking]

7 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Maybe you can explain your idea of the event,

How did the bus driver get in possession?

Never mind you don't get the sarcasm.

[BigStar]

Wait! Wait! We ALL know this is just another insurance scam! Where are our usual cynics and skeptics?

[Fat is a type of crazy]

16 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Wait! Wait! We ALL know this is just another insurance scam! Where are our usual cynics and skeptics?

It's not like you to be skeptical and cynical of fellow Asean now posters

[Pattaya57]

32 minutes ago, still kicking said:

On a plane you can close but not lock the overhead storage, but it is not just for you, many people use the overhead storage, so they can and will open it a few times I always put it under the seat between my legs. 

You can put a padlock on your bag though so no-one can simply open a zip to steal cash

[Chris Daley]

20,000 in his pocket.  He deserves it.

[grego49]

With a good Aussie name like that i thought he might be worried about his gold chain too,

[richard_smith237]

49 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

59 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

One has to be rather naive not to leave their baggage (stored in the overhead bin) unlocked when sleeping on a flight or a bus. 

Huh?  I would have thought it naïve to leave the luggage unlocked! 

 

No flies on you... correct and well spotted...  and you went to the effort of using the dieresis too....   

 

 

[stoner]

i mean lets look on the bright side. better than spending it all down on soi 6 with the lookers there now a days. 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

Nine and a half large ones in a wallet, in a backpack on an overhead luggage rack; of course he did ……. GoFundMe

[JimTripper]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

And a friend always laughs about my "manbag" strapped around the shoulder and warming my belly.

Never would I put that much money and valuable documents in a backpack overhead.

In contrast to planes these overhead compartments have no door/lock that you notice when opened midflight.

If you sit at the window it can easy slip your attention in the bus.

Overhead bags should always be put in the bin opposite you, not above you. That way you can see if someone's reaching in. When it's above you people act like they are arranging their bag next to yours and you can't see their hands.

 

That said, cash, phone, passports and laptops are always in my pocket or on my lap. Laptop goes on the floor during takeoff and landing. It's never crushed, because nobody can get their hands on it.

 

I did have a crushproof lockable military case once where everything just went in the bin, but unfortunately it was to heavy to carry around so I stopped using it.

Edited November 29, 2023 by JimTripper

[cdemundo]

1 hour ago, Joe Farang said:

My money and passport stays in my pocket while travelling.

 

Yes, in my pocket and when practical in my front pocket.

I also have one of those "travel wallets" that you wear on a cord around your neck.

If I expect be sleeping on a plane, bus, whatever, I wear the travel wallet under my shirt.

 

Additionally, why the huge amount of cash?

Going somewhere where there are no ATMs?

Used an SCB ATM today, had a sign on it "We welcome all Banks cards".

There are exceptions but any argument seems to be negated by the fact that he lost a shirt ton of money to a thief.

Edited November 29, 2023 by cdemundo

[BigStar]

1 minute ago, cdemundo said:

I also have one of those "travel wallets" that you wear on a cord around your neck.

 

Convenient for easy garroting. Kills two birds with one stone, so to speak.

[nausea]

Agree with other posters, if your gonna carry large amounts of cash, it needs to be secured on your body somewhere,  ideally monebelt or the like; at the least, a wallet in a front pocket or a bag slung across your front. Personally, the most I've carried is 20,000bt, more usually 10,000bt for a wild weekend, when cards stay at home, with a 1000bt note in my shoe.

[animalmagic]

15 hours ago, Joe Farang said:

My money and passport stays in my pocket while travelling.

Which pocket? 

[Dont confuse me]

15 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

Seriously, who carries $9,500 cash in a backpack that he puts out of his sight anywhere in the World. Idiot!

Someone who has a very good travel insurance policy 🤔!