9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

....  'whataboutery' you say...  Well done on learning a new word - work out when you use it correctly next time.

 

• Hua Hin (2015) – Gang caught snatching foreign tourists’ bags during Songkran.

• Chiang Rai (2017) – New Zealand tourist’s bag snatched at traffic junction.

• Chiang Mai (2019) – Bracelet vendor snatched tourist’s wallet at Night Bazaar.

• Chiang Mai (2025) – Swedish tourist’s phone snatched near Muay Thai gym.

• Chiang Mai (recent) – Tourist’s bag snatcher chased and caught by local.

• Chiang Rai (date unknown) – Myanmar worker’s bag snatched while cycling.

• Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Woman dragged 40m during bag snatch.

• Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Juice vendor robbed at night by motorbike thief.

• Rawai, Phuket (2025) – Australians arrested for snatching foreign tourists’ bags.

• Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Purse stolen roadside, thief groped victim.

• Cha-am (2015) – Hua Hin gang caught with stolen tourist goods from bag snatches.

• Nonthaburi (2025) – Myanmar woman’s bag taken from bicycle basket.

• Samut Prakan (2020) – Woman’s bag snatched in crowd at local fair.

• Samut Prakan (2025) – Construction worker caught snatching vendor’s purse.

• Nongprue, Chon Buri (2025) – Teen gang snatched Russian tourist’s bag.

• Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Thief caught charging phone after snatching bag.

• Udon Thani (2018) – Elderly woman’s handbag snatched at bus stop.

• Hat Yai, Songkhla (2020) – Malaysian tourist’s bag snatched outside mall.

• Surin (2019) – Teen gang caught after series of motorbike snatches.

• Roi Et (2021) – Market vendor’s handbag stolen, suspect arrested.

 

 

Thats just the first few that pop up - many more....  As I wrote, it happens all over Thailand, not just Pattaya, thus solely condemning Pattaya based upon this one event is dumb.

 

That said, I'd hazard a guess and suggest that this happens more in area's of higher tourist footfall such as Pattaya and Patong, simply because of the 'Thais' those area's attract who want to take advantage of tourists in those area's.....  The same happens in central London, Paris and Barcelona - Thailand to a far lesser degree I think.

 

 

20 over 10 years, great collection

6 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

need to scan who is around you and act accordingly, as too many scumbags around now.

 

That is not how they work.

My gold necklace was snatched from me while on the bike some 20 years ago, and before you start, no I didn't expose my necklace.

It was well hidden under my jumper, but you can't prevent it to be seen at the backside of your neck.

At a red traffic light on Sukhumvith I noticed someone on a small bike behaving strange, mixing in the queue. I now realize he was checking if he could see jewellery on any of the stationary bikers 

 

About 5km further, he passed me on the left side, attracting my attention by laying flat on his seat. As soon as I looked to the left, another bike passed me on the right and snatched my necklace

 

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

20 over 10 years, great collection

no… that’s a random sampling of some which were reported…

 

… you want every single reported bag snatch in Thailand? (many aren’t)

 
… expecting such would be as dim as your ‘great collection’ comment…  misses the point & lacks intelligent thought -  great combo ! 

People who have fancy had bags and purses, should have the commone sense to leave them at home and use a

common looking purse when they travel abroad. I have been to Thailand many times and I never wear

any jewelery, like big gold neck bands etc, or fancy rings, as the thieves can be very determined to make my

fancy stuff, their stuff. Use caution and remember where you are. In My Opinion. Oh and common sense is not

that common.

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I personally know of 3 back snatching incidents in Bangkok..... This is the first one I've heard of in Pattaya - though I think its safe to assume this and petty theft happens in any city around Thailand.... 

Russian ladies have been having their bags snatched by passing motorcycles for many years in Pattaya now. Perhaps they walk home alone down quiet streets back to their hotels with said bag over one shoulder, on the side adjacent to traffic. One got a gold chain off my neck when I was on a motorcycle once.. they are pretty skilled, 

UPDATE
Pattaya Police Arrest Cambodian Mugger Who Robbed Russian Tourist

 

 

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Welcome to Pattaya... hope you enjoy the experience.

 

Doubt it, but a good learning trip to the famous city.

 

13 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Seems rather simple.  If your plan is to rob tourists, you should go where the tourists are.

 

 

Many of them are not tourists but excpats, and they've found a hooker in a bar to mary.

9 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Many of them are not tourists but excpats, and they've found a hooker in a bar to mary.

 

When I was an expat in Bangkok, I left all my valuables in my apartment when I went out.  Now that I'm a tourist again, I don't trust hotel safes or hotel security.  So I carry my goodies with me.  I'd rather trust my own situational awareness than a hotel's safe.

 

If the Ruskie used natures wallet to hold her cash she would not have been mugged !

It amazes me that I've spent over 10 years of my life wandering Pattaya.  In the early days when I was younger I would wander til all hours drink and sometimes alone.  Never, not once, have I been accosted or a victim of crime.  Owned a condo there and never was it violated.  Have a lot of friends some of which are/were elderly and weaker and none every victims of crime.

 

Yet I am to believe from this that it is an unsafe location?  Heck it is safer than most big cities in the USA.

40 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

When I was an expat in Bangkok, I left all my valuables in my apartment when I went out.  Now that I'm a tourist again, I don't trust hotel safes or hotel security.  So I carry my goodies with me.  I'd rather trust my own situational awareness than a hotel's safe.

 

It's all very well until the day it isn't. If you are not the type to drink too much it  is not so bad. I have the habit of leaving most things in the hotel safe.  

18 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It's all very well until the day it isn't. If you are not the type to drink too much it  id not so bad. I have the habit of leaving most things in the hotel safe.  

 

I don't drink.  Still, I realize that I'm trading one risk for another.  But I'd rather count on myself than a hotel.  Personal preference.  If I get mugged on the street, I know what happened.  If I come back to the room and find my stuff missing, I don't have a clue.  Neither one has ever happened, knock wood.

 

Edit:  I'd add that I'm usually carrying a small backpack with me when out and about in Thailand.  That's the nature of shopping without a car.  Even if I'm just buying bottled water or snacks.  So I'm not increasing the danger of getting mugged if I keep my cash and passport with me.  The target on my back is the same.  Just the financial consequences if it does happen.

 

20 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Yeah while it's true that it's probably not wise to make some sweeping generalizations about Pattaya, the fact of the matter is that it's in the news a lot, so either the news media seems to have an ax to grind against Pattaya, or these stories are simply easy to find.

 

The other possibility is that the little section of Pattaya from Soi Buakhao to Beach Road and Central Pattaya Road to the south end of Walking Street is arguably an area where alot of crime takes place. 

 

I think thats a fair comment... 

 

I'd imagine and guess that it 'could' be backed up with police reports (if we could get hold of them) that most Bag Snatches in Thailand occur in the Walking-street to Beach Road area of Pattaya and in Soi Bangla area in Phuket....    for much the same reasons I'd expect to see more bag snatches in the Leicester Square and Covent Gardens and Oxford Street area's of London.... 

.

.. ultimately, wherever there are lots of tourists who may be more inclined to let down their guard, there are thieving scum who will 'target' them... 

6 hours ago, jimmybcool said:

It amazes me that I've spent over 10 years of my life wandering Pattaya.  In the early days when I was younger I would wander til all hours drink and sometimes alone.  Never, not once, have I been accosted or a victim of crime.  Owned a condo there and never was it violated.  Have a lot of friends some of which are/were elderly and weaker and none every victims of crime.

 

Yet I am to believe from this that it is an unsafe location?  Heck it is safer than most big cities in the USA.

 

Arguably yes... Safer than area's of most cities in the UK and Europe too... But that does not equate to it being risk free.

 

Walk around with big gold chains... expect that someone might snatch it...

Walk around with a handbag or a clutch 'exposed' (i.e. carrying it in your hand) etc easy for theives to snatch, and that might just happen...

 

Pattaya is not an 'unsafe location' if you are careful - but when careless, drunk etc... the risk profile increases, that can be said of thievery or personal / physical safety if someone is more inclined to get mouthy when drunk etc... 

Don't know why I find this story more amusing than shocking just like the 30cm Tsunami that just hit Russia that turned out to be 3m 🤔 

On 7/29/2025 at 1:23 PM, smew said:

A family friendly destination 

Gawd, ..

My wife had her bag snatched right in front of the US Embassy in  Bangkok , while exiting a taxi  , by two Southern Asian individuals on a scooter.  Unfortunately we had passports,  money and personal effects.  I tried to run behind them for a while but it was to late to catch them . Went to the police station immediately to report the incident and we were not the first one getting the snatch that day .... 

21 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The other possibility is that the little section of Pattaya from Soi Buakhao to Beach Road and Central Pattaya Road to the south end of Walking Street is arguably an area where alot of crime takes place.

 

But not where this incident took place.

On 7/29/2025 at 1:54 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

....  'whataboutery' you say...  Well done on learning a new word - work out when you use it correctly next time.

 

• Hua Hin (2015) – Gang caught snatching foreign tourists’ bags during Songkran.

• Chiang Rai (2017) – New Zealand tourist’s bag snatched at traffic junction.

• Chiang Mai (2019) – Bracelet vendor snatched tourist’s wallet at Night Bazaar.

• Chiang Mai (2025) – Swedish tourist’s phone snatched near Muay Thai gym.

• Chiang Mai (recent) – Tourist’s bag snatcher chased and caught by local.

• Chiang Rai (date unknown) – Myanmar worker’s bag snatched while cycling.

• Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Woman dragged 40m during bag snatch.

• Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Juice vendor robbed at night by motorbike thief.

• Rawai, Phuket (2025) – Australians arrested for snatching foreign tourists’ bags.

• Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat (2023) – Purse stolen roadside, thief groped victim.

• Cha-am (2015) – Hua Hin gang caught with stolen tourist goods from bag snatches.

• Nonthaburi (2025) – Myanmar woman’s bag taken from bicycle basket.

• Samut Prakan (2020) – Woman’s bag snatched in crowd at local fair.

• Samut Prakan (2025) – Construction worker caught snatching vendor’s purse.

• Nongprue, Chon Buri (2025) – Teen gang snatched Russian tourist’s bag.

• Sattahip, Chon Buri (2025) – Thief caught charging phone after snatching bag.

• Udon Thani (2018) – Elderly woman’s handbag snatched at bus stop.

• Hat Yai, Songkhla (2020) – Malaysian tourist’s bag snatched outside mall.

• Surin (2019) – Teen gang caught after series of motorbike snatches.

• Roi Et (2021) – Market vendor’s handbag stolen, suspect arrested.

 

 

Thats just the first few that pop up - many more....  As I wrote, it happens all over Thailand, not just Pattaya, thus solely condemning Pattaya based upon this one event is dumb.

 

That said, I'd hazard a guess and suggest that this happens more in area's of higher tourist footfall such as Pattaya and Patong, simply because of the 'Thais' those area's attract who want to take advantage of tourists in those area's.....  The same happens in central London, Paris and Barcelona - Thailand to a far lesser degree I think.

 

 

 

Why did you waste precious hours researching just to confirm that crime happens everywhere? Good grief!

 

Such a pity 

14 minutes ago, chippendale said:

 

Why did you waste precious hours researching just to confirm that crime happens everywhere? Good grief!

 

Such a pity 

 

Why aren't you switched on to the fact that even the dullest AI unearths such results in under 30 seconds ??  Good grief indeed...  better stick with the dancing 'chippendale' !!!!  

 

 

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Arguably yes... Safer than area's of most cities in the UK and Europe too... But that does not equate to it being risk free.

 

Walk around with big gold chains... expect that someone might snatch it...

Walk around with a handbag or a clutch 'exposed' (i.e. carrying it in your hand) etc easy for theives to snatch, and that might just happen...

 

Pattaya is not an 'unsafe location' if you are careful - but when careless, drunk etc... the risk profile increases, that can be said of thievery or personal / physical safety if someone is more inclined to get mouthy when drunk etc... 

 

Absolutely.  Even in my drinking days I wasn't a complete <deleted> wearing large gold chains.  Or flashing a lot of cash.  I did have a 5 baht chain I wore but under my shirt.  Still have it somewhere.  Now I would agree a bad idea.  Back then it was safer and I was a bit more imposing.  If you make yourself a target you earn what you get.  But the concept I was responding to is that Pattaya is unsafe.  If it is then EVERY city on planet earth is unsafe.  And many worse.  

Was it her first time in thailand and did not know what gangs on motorbikes can do.She will not do it again and the designer handbag is given to someone else now