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

[RJRS1301]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

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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Calling BS on this claim

[RJRS1301]

7 minutes ago, Dont confuse me said:

Someone who has a very good travel insurance policy 🤔! 

That amount not covered by travel insurance for cash loss

im calling BS on the claim

[neeray]

Once upon a time, I had the need to have $10,000 cash on my person, on my way to CM from Canada. I used a money belt, and even at that, I was a bit concerned.

 

Perhaps this naive traveler was on his first trip away from home base and mistook the smiley faces in the travel brochures for honesty.

[harrycallahan]

The largest Australian note is $100. 95 of those is a stuffed wallet. 

[SiSePuede419]

Totally normal.

The first thing I do in every country I visit is to put almost $6000 USD in cash in a bag on the tour bus someplace out of my sight where it can be easily stolen.

It's the least I can do. 😃

[Stargeezr]

Niave traveller will always lose stuff. Why anyone would not use a money belt or a

small satchel you keep on your person for packing money, is beyond me.

A wallet in your pocket may be a bit uncomfortable, but is way better than having it stolen.

IMO.

[sfbandung]

Why travel with that amount of cash on you? Silly. He doesn't have cards and a bank account?

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, petermik said:

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

One would think that the only possibility......most folks would keep a wary eye on it for the complete journey. Not like the old method of someone clambering around in the luggage compartment going through bags. I was thinking it could have happened before he got on the bus, unless he checked it after then. 

As someone has said, the valuables should not leave one's person. 

[Bazerino]

16 hours 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?

He may of had extraordinarily long arms......

Edited November 29, 2023 by Bazerino

[Dukeleto]

They are looking for the wrong person! They need to be looking for a backpack picker surely?

[newbee2022]

Carrying 200.000 Baht in his pockets???

I can't believe it🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄

[kcpattaya]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr Jewelers Palasunoram

Wonder what part of Australia he comes from and why he's traveling in a bus with so much money on him. You would expect a nice taxi ride?

And who says he got pickpocketed in the bus? More likely it was taken from him BEFORE his bus ride....

[Jing Joe]

If it's really true, it was stupid, and why not use a hidden longer flat money holder?  What bad luck a robber was e.g. in the row behind, and oblivious to others nearby as a robbery happening i.e. whose bag is really whose?

[Boedog]

Sounds like bullsh.t, and such an Aussie name

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Boedog said:

Sounds like bullsh.t, and such an Aussie name

Not all called Bruce and Sheila these days!

[Pattaya57]

1 hour ago, harrycallahan said:

The largest Australian note is $100. 95 of those is a stuffed wallet. 

When was the last time you saw a $100 note? Largest ATM note is $50 so likely 190 of those.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, petermik said:

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

Was he ever awake.... carrying that much cash?

[Brigante7]

Not the sharpest tool in the box. What kind of idiot leaves that much money unattended?

 

 

 

Brigante7.

[bristolgeoff]

A few question it is 2hrs from bkk was he asleep or not watching what or who was around him on the bus.If he was carrying all that cash and documents why not on his person in a bag.That is being silly not watching his things or on his body.Now he is well light on a few things for his short trip in thailand now

[jacko45k]

26 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

When was the last time you saw a $100 note? Largest ATM note is $50 so likely 190 of those.

Is it not possible to pre-order larger amounts, with larger notes from branch offices in Oz. Did that a few times in UK.

[Watchit]

45 minutes ago, kcpattaya said:

Wonder what part of Australia he comes from and why he's traveling in a bus with so much money on him. You would expect a nice taxi ride?

And who says he got pickpocketed in the bus? More likely it was taken from him BEFORE his bus ride....

Let's not beat about the bush. I'm calling this as insurance fraud from our Sri Lankan friend who also happens to have an Australian passport like so many others do.

[itsari]

17 hours ago, grego49 said:

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

A good Aussie name , maybe Jarrah would fit that description .

[Andre0720]

Well, someone with a better brain will certainly use this money more wisely than this fellow did....

[Lacessit]

I rarely carry large amounts of cash, when I do it's in a money belt around my waist, under my shirt.

I wonder if he lost his passport as well, maybe "valuable documents " is the term preferred.

 

[shackleton]

May this be a lesson to others always keep your passport money and valuables 

Personally on you or where you can see them 😏 when travelling 

Never put in bags in the hold 

A expensive lesson learned

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Not all called Bruce and Sheila these days!

Unfortunately 🥴

[soalbundy]

18 hours ago, BigStar said:

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

I don't think money is insured

[Older and Wiser]

Even with the largest denomination of Oz currency, that would 95 hundred dollar bills, plus his Thai money, that would be a well-stuffed wallet. Just saying.

[jesimps]

18 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Maybe you can explain your idea of the event,

How did the bus driver get in possession?

I think he was referring to money found and handed in to police by bus and taxi drivers after the passengers had been dropped off. He wasn't suggesting the driver had stolen it.

[ignore it]

A fool...