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Pattaya Ranks 8th Worst Globally for Pickpockets and Scams

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17 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

I think many European cities are much worse. They pickpocket in the middle of the day.

Then what about countries like Egypt? 

Not sure if this survey is accurate. 

I’m quite sure Paris is worse where pickpocketing is an art . And if you have a Patek Philippe or a Bréguet, don’t go anywhere near Cannes.  And never put your phone on the table while you’re eating a delicious meal !

 

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  • For 20 years, in Pattaya, I leave my shopping on my motorbike while i go into other shops, sometimes for long periods. I have never had anything stolen. I've never lived anywhere that is safer. In Aus

  • So, are we supposed to believe that the 10 cities mentioned are worse than anywhere else in the entire world, LOL!!!!

  • 8th worst meaning Bangkok was rated (1st) worst, quite a shocking statistic considering

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56 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

You've never been on a baht bus then, they are full of little thieving pickpockets and certain drivers are in cahoots with them. Big divvy up after the driver finishes work. Caught one last year trying to get his hand in my pocket swiped the bar steward with a backhander across his chops, he ran off down a Soi without payment to the driver, 1hr later saw him travelling opposite direction on the same baht bus. Draw your own conclusions 

 

okay - wow

 

I have been on many baht buses in Pattaya , both alone aor with groups of friends - and have never witnessed or even heard of such behaviour 

21 hours ago, LennyW said:

So, are we supposed to believe that the 10 cities mentioned are worse than anywhere else in the entire world, LOL!!!!

Scams are not the same as dangerous. If you know how to avoid people in those cities it's much better then many other international cities. A lot of it here is choosing to not get involved.

11 hours ago, geisha said:

I’m quite sure Paris is worse where pickpocketing is an art . And if you have a Patek Philippe or a Bréguet, don’t go anywhere near Cannes.  And never put your phone on the table while you’re eating a delicious meal !

 

What's a Patek Phillippe? A watch?

I have a 25 dollar plastic Casio watch.  

 

11 hours ago, G Rex said:

 

okay - wow

 

I have been on many baht buses in Pattaya , both alone aor with groups of friends - and have never witnessed or even heard of such behaviour 

 

AN is like the Twilight Zone.

People tell stories ... and you never quite know if it's in their imaginary world or real. 

 

22 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Lol... 3.1 scams per 1000 visitors, you have to be kidding me, pfft. Like so many of these puff pieces, they are living in a parallel universe.

They’re an insurance company basing the statement on the figures presented to them. 
do I believe them, or some bloke on the web?

hmmmm. Tough call

21 hours ago, freedomnow said:

But do the Thaivisa/AseanNow members suffer from said issues ?!

 

I would imagine that the members here are more likely to be the perpetrator rather than the victims. 555

19 hours ago, G Rex said:

 

Agree!   Never seen or heard of a pick-pocket there.  Most of them are in Europe AFAIK

 

mmmm.   methinks the collators of said report by Compare the Market have no idea what they are talking about!

Well I got pick-pocketed on a Baht bus many years ago. Crowded bus and a couple of ladyboys moved a bit too close. When I alighted, my wallet had gone.

TBH, I now consider that to be my own stupidity in allowing it  to happen - I've taken appropriate steps to prevent it - never wear shorts without zip pockets or have wallet on a chain on belt.

 

And as recently as this February I observed someone who, I'm fairly sure, was attempting to pick my pocket, again on a Baht bus very late at night.  They failed!

Only place I have ever been pick-pocketed was on La Ramblas in Barcelona. I was aware it could happen so kept a colour photocopy of a 5 Euro note in my back pocket. Had a wallet with the weekend's spending money buried deep in a front pocket. Got crowded by a group of old women who were trying to sell me a lucky clover. Once they had taken the hint that I wasn't buying I checked my back pocket and chuckled to myself. Yep, it was gone. Had two further copies but only needed another one which was not stolen. 

 

Another time I was 'robbed' was on the escalator at Bank tube station London. I was actually coming to Thailand to live for a year in 2002 (stayed for 2 and half years). I was fully loaded including a small rucksack on my back with a small, rear zipped section. Shifty looking unwashed individual behind me but didn't think too much about it. Only realised on the platform that it had been unzipped and was empty. Got away with a packet of tissues and a pack of extra strong mints. 

Can confirm I had around 4000 baht taken by some kids on walking street about 6am one morning.

 

Although I recovered the money thanks to the help of a local whom spotted the theft and the money was returned.

 

I think that this U.K.-based site needs to look closer to home.

Never been pickpocketed, but definitely scammed  at the big puddle they call "Pattaya floating market"  biggest scam in Pattaya.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I have a 25 dollar plastic Casio watch. 

Aha.

So you bought the expensive one then.

A magnet for the Cheap Charlie pickpockets in Thailand. 

On 10/30/2025 at 5:18 PM, LennyW said:

So, are we supposed to believe that the 10 cities mentioned are worse than anywhere else in the entire world, LOL!!!!

How many thousands of phones snatched from people in London last year? 106,000

Only 8th place? , To say I am disappointed is an understatement. The state must be overpaying the police.

8th is pathetic, step up your game Pattaya.

7 hours ago, theshu25 said:

Get on the train in Italy or  go to Spain,the pickpockets work in gangs around the clock,scumbags

My personal worst pickpocket experience was in Rome, Italy @ the Colosseum, where I witnessed a thief take a woman's wallet from her purse.  A friend traveling with me in Avenida da Liberdad street in Lisbon had the same happen. 

Does the study mention the nationality of the pick- pockets and scammers?

My bets are on people with (how can I say this?) darker or yellower complexions.

20 hours ago, LarryLEB said:

The first attempt was successful in stealing my phone (a small, non-smart phone).   Smooooooth!  An expert at work!   The second attempt a couple of years later by the same group didn't succeed because I recognized them and warned the others on the songtao.  On that occasion, the perpetrator actually moved from one side to sit directly next to me. 

Yeah, although I have seen groups of women too. I didn't half get heckled when I called them out, I noticed they didn't pay the songthaew driver when they rushed off. 

On 10/30/2025 at 4:27 PM, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok and Phuket also appeared on the list, raising national concerns.

Try getting crammed in the MRT during rush hour. Easily a pickpocket hangout.

On 10/30/2025 at 5:18 PM, LennyW said:

So, are we supposed to believe that the 10 cities mentioned are worse than anywhere else in the entire world, LOL!!!!

Indeed big nonsense.

It's based on traveller reports.

"Mentions", are they set in

relation to number of travellers?

Bangkok is also world #1 in number of travellers!

How many travel to South American hotspots, Africa?

 

16 hours ago, geisha said:

And never put your phone on the table while you’re eating a delicious meal !

Don't walk London streets with the mobile in your hand.

32 minutes ago, 10baht said:

Try getting crammed in the MRT during rush hour. Easily a pickpocket hangout.

   Unfortunately, it's no longer just getting crammed during the rush hour.  Spouse and I rode the MRT from the Phetchaburi station to Queen Sirikit Convention Center station at 10:30 am yesterday and it was jam-packed--the kind of jam-packed where riders have to get off the train when it stops to make room for other riders to exit and then get back on.  This at 10:30 when everyone should be at their desks working already!  I shudder to think what it's like during actual rush hour!   Bangkok's MRT, BTS, and ARL need to move from 4-car to 6-car trains immediately, if not sooner.  

On 10/30/2025 at 8:37 PM, Sigmund said:

Not surprising as with all the drunks around at 4am, very easy it seems to rob the sex tourists. 

Indeed, particularly the spike in gold chain thefts occurring around that time on Beach Rd Pattaya with the randy Indian gents victimised whilst in pursuit of male-on-male action with the LB's.

On 10/30/2025 at 9:18 PM, LennyW said:

So, are we supposed to believe that the 10 cities mentioned are worse than anywhere else in the entire world, LOL!!!!

YES!

On 10/30/2025 at 10:02 PM, blaze master said:

What no netcitizens outrage ? 

No. because they know it occurs daily.🙂

On 10/31/2025 at 12:27 AM, G Rex said:

 

Agree!   Never seen or heard of a pick-pocket there.  Most of them are in Europe AFAIK

 

mmmm.   methinks the collators of said report by Compare the Market have no idea what they are talking about!

Or, maybe they do!

Pattaya has turned into Mumbai. It sucks. No clue as to why anyone would want go there. The beach sucks, the reefs are shot, the Thai food is "tourist food" and all that's left is maybe a few OK Western places to eat and a million Indian restaurants. It's a tourist ghetto that has morphed into a version of India and it is horrible in every way. 

6 hours ago, newnative said:

 Bangkok's MRT, BTS, and ARL need to move from 4-car to 6-car trains immediately, if not sooner.  

Brilliant no wonder they haven't thought of it 😗

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