Crime Polish Tourist Avoids Robbery in Udon Thani Thanks to Language Barrier

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

A pair of would-be robbers in Udon Thani left empty-handed after an attempted mugging of a Polish woman went awry due to communication issues.

 

The incident occurred near Nong Prajak Park in Udon Thani city, where the duo, armed and on a motorcycle, tried to rob the 29-year-old Polish tourist, Suzanna Natalia, late in the evening.

 

At approximately 9:40 PM on 6th June, local police were alerted to the attempted robbery. Rachapol Thanawat, Deputy Inspector of Udon Thani Police Station, led a response team to the scene.

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

There, they found the victim along with a helpful passerby, Veruka Potdech, a special education teacher who had been walking in the area after dining nearby.

 

The robbers, described as a man and a woman on a motorcycle, allegedly attempted to intimidate Ms Natalia into handing over her valuables.

 

However, when they realised there was nothing valuable in her bag, they demanded a mobile transaction. Unfortunately for them, their demands fell flat, as the language barrier made communication impossible.

 

The offenders, frustrated and unable to unlock the victim’s phone, returned the items and departed. Joseph, a local assistant officer of mixed English descent, corroborated this account, noting the perpetrators wore contrasting jackets, a black one for the driver and a white one for the passenger, before fleeing the scene.

 

Police, suspecting the robbers fled on a red Yamaha Filano or Honda Scoopy motorcycle, are now reviewing CCTV footage to track their escape route and continue their investigation.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily News 2025-06-07

 

 

[thaibreaker]

Good on her. I will use sign language if I'm in the same situation. Being deaf, that should do it. 

[ronster]

Thankfully they were dumb enough to not try using Google translate 🙄🙈

[hotchilli]

5 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Good on her. I will use sign language if I'm in the same situation. Being deaf, that should do it. 

The certain finger is universally understood

[Thomas72]

Imagine the mobile transaction went through. Very easy to trace to the destination account holder - and make arrests.

[thaibreaker]

1 minute ago, Thomas72 said:

Imagine the mobile transaction went through. Very easy to trace to the destination account holder - and make arrests.

Good plan, but I wouldn't count on getting my money back.. Probably spent already.

[chilli42]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

A pair of would-be robbers in Udon Thani left empty-handed after an attempted mugging of a Polish woman went awry due to communication issues.

 

The incident occurred near Nong Prajak Park in Udon Thani city, where the duo, armed and on a motorcycle, tried to rob the 29-year-old Polish tourist, Suzanna Natalia, late in the evening.

 

At approximately 9:40 PM on 6th June, local police were alerted to the attempted robbery. Rachapol Thanawat, Deputy Inspector of Udon Thani Police Station, led a response team to the scene.

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

There, they found the victim along with a helpful passerby, Veruka Potdech, a special education teacher who had been walking in the area after dining nearby.

 

The robbers, described as a man and a woman on a motorcycle, allegedly attempted to intimidate Ms Natalia into handing over her valuables.

 

However, when they realised there was nothing valuable in her bag, they demanded a mobile transaction. Unfortunately for them, their demands fell flat, as the language barrier made communication impossible.

 

The offenders, frustrated and unable to unlock the victim’s phone, returned the items and departed. Joseph, a local assistant officer of mixed English descent, corroborated this account, noting the perpetrators wore contrasting jackets, a black one for the driver and a white one for the passenger, before fleeing the scene.

 

Police, suspecting the robbers fled on a red Yamaha Filano or Honda Scoopy motorcycle, are now reviewing CCTV footage to track their escape route and continue their investigation.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily News 2025-06-07

 

 

Another criminal act involving a Honda Scoopy. Something must be done about these scooters! 

[wensiensheng]

Jeez, in Nong Pra Jak park of all places. It’s such a family style place with people doing all sorts of normal activities. And a nice place to take stroll at 9:20 after having dinner. It’s no Bangla road or walking street, nothing like it.

 

Is nowhere safe now?

[wensiensheng]

22 minutes ago, Thomas72 said:

Imagine the mobile transaction went through. Very easy to trace to the destination account holder - and make arrests.

 

22 minutes ago, Thomas72 said:

Imagine the mobile transaction went through. Very easy to trace to the destination account holder - and make arrests.

My teenager daughter stupidly allowed her WhatsApp account to be cloned. The cloner sent me messages saying he had control of her and asking for money to be sent to a specific bank account, in order to “get her back”.

I realized what was happening and called her to delete her account. My Thai wife looked up the account holders name on Facebook, so I had location, photos, name and bank account details of the perpetrator.

 

Police weren’t interested. No money was lost. So I guess the guy just moved on to trying to scam someone else.

[digger70]

38 minutes ago, ronster said:

Thankfully they were dumb enough to not try using Google translate 🙄🙈

The offenders, frustrated and unable to unlock the victim’s phone, returned the items and departed.

[Quentin Zen]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Nong Prajak Park

The ONLY nice place in Udon Thani city.  Northern Udon City has some mountains, never been.....  OK, that city is now a NO

[watchcat]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

A pair of would-be robbers in Udon Thani left empty-handed after an attempted mugging of a Polish woman went awry due to communication issues.

 

Attempted mugging, I'd say she was lucky not to get raped, or  worse.

[FlorC]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

where the duo, armed and on a motorcycle

Armed with what ?

Knife , machete , gun ?

[Upnotover]

8 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Armed with what ?

Knife , machete , gun ?

Armed with a QR code, demanding the victim to s-can.

[Nabbiex]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The certain finger is universally understood

 

Many delicate nuances in sign language... One example...

 

 "I am impressed !"

[animalmagic]

2 hours ago, FlorC said:

Armed with what ?

Knife , machete , gun ?

Low IQ and limited imagination!

[Expat Tom]

Welcome to the Land of Smiles. AND, the authorities wonder why tourists are not flocking 

to Thailand???? I have lived here as an expat for 15 years. My exit plan is ready. I used to own condos here but sold them and now rent. Everything that I have in Thailand falls into one of two categories:

1) it will fit into two checked suitcases and one carry on -or-

2) I can leave it behind with out too much financial loss or heart break.

[riverhigh]

7 minutes ago, Expat Tom said:

Welcome to the Land of Smiles. AND, the authorities wonder why tourists are not flocking 

to Thailand???? I have lived here as an expat for 15 years. My exit plan is ready. I used to own condos here but sold them and now rent. Everything that I have in Thailand falls into one of two categories:

1) it will fit into two checked suitcases and one carry on -or-

2) I can leave it behind with out too much financial loss or heart break.

Hmmm .... are things really that bad in Thailand or are we getting a little conerned about getting old in a country without medical isnurance and not able to speak the language. Or for Brits it may be a simple problem of their pension cheques being  frozen in time without cost of living increases, not a Thai problem.  Most retirees lead a sedentary lifestyle and don't go out late at night, in unfamiliar areas, and expose themselves to unforeseen dangers. Just saying.

[spidermike007]

We want your money, we want your jewels, oh you can't understand us, well this is turning out to be a lot more work than we bargained for, all right let's look for the next mark. 

[quake]

56 minutes ago, Expat Tom said:

Welcome to the Land of Smiles. AND, the authorities wonder why tourists are not flocking 

to Thailand???? I have lived here as an expat for 15 years. My exit plan is ready. I used to own condos here but sold them and now rent. Everything that I have in Thailand falls into one of two categories:

1) it will fit into two checked suitcases and one carry on -or-

2) I can leave it behind with out too much financial loss or heart break.

 

Bye. 

[Chongalulu]

You'd think they'd have bothered to learn beforehand the Polish for " Show me the money!”. Thais and their lazy language skills....

[CanadaSam]

6 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Police weren’t interested. No money was lost.

 

Neither was any offered, apparently, by you to catch the guy?

[barmatt]

They could've used google translate 🙃

[Kinok Farang]

13 hours ago, Expat Tom said:

Welcome to the Land of Smiles. AND, the authorities wonder why tourists are not flocking 

to Thailand???? I have lived here as an expat for 15 years. My exit plan is ready. I used to own condos here but sold them and now rent. Everything that I have in Thailand falls into one of two categories:

1) it will fit into two checked suitcases and one carry on -or-

2) I can leave it behind with out too much financial loss or heart break.

Hate to tell you mate but unless you are planning to go to another SE

Asia Country the alternative is a lot worse.

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, Nabbiex said:

 

Many delicate nuances in sign language... One example...

 

 "I am impressed !"

Your wife got a big...smile🥰

[Nabbiex]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Your wife got a big...smile🥰

How did you know?  Did you have an affair with my wife? 😮

[Aussie999]

Glad the girl is ok...but here's what I noticed, if the would be thieves were foreigners we would have numerous posts condemning them, calling full extent of the law, jail them, deport them etc, but  here we have 2 Thais and not 1 post condemning them... It really does seem so people are simply anti foreigner and can't condemn Thais, no matter what they do. Just an observation. I expect at least 1 downvote

[fredwiggy]

21 hours ago, FlorC said:

Armed with what ?

Knife , machete , gun ?

Usually all of the above, with the random stick thrown in.