Japanese Tourist Pickpocketed on First Day in Pattaya, Frustrated by Police Response

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of TMN

 

A 78-year-old Japanese tourist visiting Pattaya for the first time was left frustrated after falling victim to pickpocketing on his first day in the city. He reported the crime to local police but was told to find evidence himself before officers would take further action.

 

At 00:40 on 19 February, Mr. Yoshiki Matsuura, accompanied by his Thai female friend, filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police Station, reporting that he had been pickpocketed near a jewellery store in front of Walking Street, Pattaya.

 

Mr. Matsuura explained that while he was exploring Pattaya’s nightlife, a Thai man approached him, engaged in small talk, and stayed nearby for 5–10 minutes. Shortly after, he realised his bag had been unzipped and several valuable items were missing, including:

 

1. 1,400 baht in cash

2. Two credit cards linked to a Japanese bank

3. Two driving licences

 

Realising the theft, he immediately contacted his Thai friend, who accompanied him to the police station to report the incident, particularly concerned about his stolen credit cards and licences.

 

However, upon filing the report, Mr. Matsuura was only given a single sheet of paper as confirmation and was told by investigators to find evidence himself. Officers reportedly advised him to check CCTV footage on his own and, if he identified a suspect, to report back so police could make an arrest.

 

Adding to his frustration, the incident occurred just a few metres from a Pattaya Tourist Police service point, but when he sought help there, he was simply advised to report the crime at the main police station.

 

Deeply disappointed by the lack of support, Mr. Matsuura is urging police to take action to locate the suspect and recover his stolen property.

-- 2025-02-20

 

[flyingtlger]

7 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

He reported the crime to local police but was told to find evidence himself before officers would take further action.

LOL, welcome to LOS .....

[bkk6060]

Well,  he certainly could have lost or misplaced those items also not surprising they don't want to investigate. 

PS: did he asked the girl?

[Spock]

Pattaya police only have self-interest in pursuing criminals. If there is nothing in it for them or if apprehension of a criminal presents difficulties or requires solid police work, they retreat into their gold jewellery and watches and the security that sitting on their bum upstairs at the station provides. 

[mikebell]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

find evidence himself before officers would take further action.

SOP for Pattaya cops.  Police work? DIY.  Look at the roads for 'evidence' - you won't find any cops policing the daily slaughter until AFTER the event.

[KhunLA]

What did he actually expect the police to do, any different than PoPo in any other city or country to do.  You got pickpocketed.  You pickpocketed, report taken.  If the catch someone, and they have your cards on them, case solved.  No different than PoPo anywhere.

 

Next time pay attention to your bag, and be grateful, they didn't simply take the whole bag.

 

[Woke to Sounds]

How is it possible not to be cognisant of someone rifling through your own bag in plain sight?

 

Perhaps Mr Matsuura had indulged in Thailand's legal devil's lettuce earlier in the evening thus compromising his awareness?

[Gottfrid]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

PS: did he asked the girl?

Ask the girl about what? Did you read the article?

[spidermike007]

I feel bad for this guy but unfortunately his expectations were a bit high when it comes to the local police. 

 

The RTP at it's inception seems to have been created with a status quo from the government. We will NOT pay you a living wage, but you have a franchise, and the limit of your income is based solely on your own creativity and initiative, and you will always be protected. Is that not the case? 

 

Are they out finding government officials who are engaged in drug trafficking or sex slavery? No. Why? Because those goons are protected. 

 

Are they patrolling the highways to find reckless drivers? No. Why? Because they do not care one iota about traffic safety. It is all lip service. 

 

I guess there must be some police in Thailand who are competent and capable as it seems like some serious crimes are solved here and there but I've never seen it first hand. My tip is to avoid contacting the police ever, unless it is an absolute emergency. 

 

 

[Boulderman]

Strap, sew, buckle, put a chain around connected to your belt loop, or put it in your socks. I'm paranoid to lose or get my wallet stolen.  Secure that, soldier!

[richard_smith237]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

However, upon filing the report, Mr. Matsuura was only given a single sheet of paper as confirmation and was told by investigators to find evidence himself. Officers reportedly advised him to check CCTV footage on his own and, if he identified a suspect, to report back so police could make an arrest.

 

Lazy beggars....     Mr. Matsuura is unlikely to be granted access to CCTV in the area without police assistance... 

 

It is actions such as this which give the RTP a terrible reputation.....      

 

He [Mr. Matsuura] should have lied and stated 100,000 baht was stolen, then the eyes if the BiB would light up with $$$ triggering them into action.... 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aussie999]

8 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Well,  he certainly could have lost or misplaced those items also not surprising they don't want to investigate. 

PS: did he asked the girl?

Your comment is irrelevant, you are assuming something that has no substance.

[Aussie999]

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

What did he actually expect the police to do, any different than PoPo in any other city or country to do.  You got pickpocketed.  You pickpocketed, report taken.  If the catch someone, and they have your cards on them, case solved.  No different than PoPo anywhere.

 

Next time pay attention to your bag, and be grateful, they didn't simply take the whole bag.

 

Mate, stop with your rediculous comments, many police, in many countries take theft seriously... Geez

[J Branche]

Pretty sure the Tourist Police at that time were saying the night is just getting started on Walking Street and wanted to check out the action, not spend hours looking at surveillance footage and chasing down someone for only what they see as a 1,400 baht loss.

[steven100]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

while he was exploring Pattaya’s nightlife

exploring what  ?     drinking habits  ?     bars  ?  girls  ?  

 

Mr Sumitono ,  you need to get a life   ...    TIT    !!   

[petedk]

9 hours ago, Spock said:

Pattaya police only have self-interest in pursuing criminals.

 

Pattaya police ..

[PETERTHEEATER]

This looks like a job for the Pattaya RTP Foreign Volunteer members.!

 

[topt]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Mate, stop with your rediculous comments, many police, in many countries take theft seriously... Geez

It's relative and some also don't -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14398989/Moment-brazen-shoplifter-empties-shelves-Boots-female-security-guard.html

 

Apparently this is now the "norm" in the UK

[Aussie999]

2 minutes ago, topt said:

It's relative and some also don't -

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14398989/Moment-brazen-shoplifter-empties-shelves-Boots-female-security-guard.html

 

Apparently this is now the "norm" in the UK

Where did I say all... I didn't, so your comment is irrelevant 

[KhunLA]

5 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Mate, stop with your rediculous comments, many police, in many countries take theft seriously... Geez

Please tell us what they, or any police force can do to prevent and or investigate, to solve the all important, deadly pickpocket folks.  Aside from plain clothes officers in high risk areas (which the may even have), though with limited resources and shy of 40M tourist a year ... good luck with that.

 

Didn't see who and don't know when ... yea, we get right on it.

 

They gave him good advice.  Go back to shop, if even that is where it happened, and ask to see CCTV, if they even have.  PoPo has better things to do.   Aside from getting enough false insurance complaints from tourist, they can't be bothered.

 

50 years of playing tourist, never last anything, never had anything stolen, never been pickpocketed.   Just use a little of that uncommon common sense.  I does go a long way.

[Liverpool Lou]

10 hours ago, mikebell said:

Look at the roads for 'evidence' - you won't find any cops policing the daily slaughter until AFTER the event.

That's because they are not provided with sufficient equipment.

[thesetat]

14 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

LOL, welcome to LOS .....

Actually i think this happens in most of Thailand. The police are too lazy to do their own investigations or they lack qualified personnel. 

I hope the guy did what they said and found a place that has video of the pickpocketing. But sadly I think even if they supplied videos the police would not react the way he hopes and the criminal would never be searched for. 

On the other hand. Perhaps he did not provide the police with enough incentive to do anything? Hmm

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Are they patrolling the highways to find reckless drivers? No. Why? Because they do not care one iota about traffic safety. It is all lip service. 

It is actually because they are not provided with enough equipment to do that patrolling, nothing to do with lip service.

[cdemundo]

"a Thai man approached him, engaged in small talk"

 

A Thai man out in the "vibrant Pattaya nightlife" engages a 70-something man in small talk.

Why?

His spidey senses should have been tingling.

 

I am sympathetic and there are plausible types out there, even still...

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

He [Mr. Matsuura] should have lied and stated 100,000 baht was stolen, then the eyes if the BiB would light up with $$$ triggering them into action.... 

And what do you suggest that he do when charged with making a false police report?

[still kicking]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

exploring what  ?     drinking habits  ?     bars  ?  girls  ?  

 

Mr Sumitono ,  you need to get a life   ...    TIT    !!   

You need to get a life, sick little puppy   

[Ctkong]

First timer Japanese tourist had a rude surprise of the integrity of pattaya police and the false sense of financial safety their politicians kept harping about. 

[DonniePeverley]

They do get alot of false claims - someone just dropping their wallet will say it was stolen without evidence, only to be later found in their hotel room etc

 

I can imagine it can be quite tiring.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Please tell us what they, or any police force can do to prevent and or investigate, to solve the all important, deadly pickpocket folks.  Aside from plain clothes officers in high risk areas (which the may even have), though with limited resources and shy of 40M tourist a year ... good luck with that.

 

Didn't see who and don't know when ... yea, we get right on it.

 

They gave him good advice.  Go back to shop, if even that is where it happened, and ask to see CCTV, if they even have.  PoPo has better things to do.   Aside from getting enough false insurance complaints from tourist, they can't be bothered.

 

50 years of playing tourist, never last anything, never had anything stolen, never been pickpocketed.   Just use a little of that uncommon common sense.  I does go a long way.

OMG... I'm sure you are Maga... because, like them, you don't THINK.... you really are one of the most illogical posters, on here. 

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

OMG... I'm sure you are Maga... because, like them, you don't THINK.... you really are one of the most illogical posters, on here. 

MAGA has what to do with anything in TH.   Oh, you mean Trump pick their pockets ... GOT IT