Beware of cheap rides from Bangkok to south

Some tourists robbed while sleeping

BANGKOK: -- Heading for a no-frills, free and easy vacation in Thailand? Then be warned. There's something you should be wary of - cheap fares on buses and vans heading from Bangkok to the country's southern tourist hot spots.

The Nation reported that thieves have been stealing valuables from passengers' luggage while they travel on inexpensive transport.

On Saturday, Colonel Weeraphan Tanjai and his team from Thailand's Tourist Police arrested five suspects in the southern province of Surat Thani on charges of stealing valuables from foreign passengers.

He said drivers and their attendants worked together, stealing valuables from passengers' luggage while they were sleeping at night.

'We have received many complaints about such thefts,' Major-General Panya Mamen, chief of the Tourist Police, said yesterday.

Thieves often lure tourists into the trap by offering them cheap rides from Bangkok to destinations in the South.

To prevent this, the police are handing out warning brochures to tourists, setting up checkpoints on roads to the South and placing plainclothes officers on board tourist vans and buses.

The Land Transport Department has also asked the police to closely watch these transport operators.

Major-Gen Panya said the police were monitoring several gangs allegedly involved in these thefts.

'We can't disclose any details because investigations and preparations for making arrests are ongoing,' he said.

Southern Tourism Bureau Region 5 director Pramote Sapyen said his office regularly received complaints about thefts.

Tourists discovered their valuables missing only after they had left the bus or van.

'Most complaints come from visitors to Koh Samui,' he said.

His office plans to post warning notices around main tourist attractions and in vans and buses to make tourists aware of the thefts.

--AsiaOne 2004-10-25

This is nothing unusual on non regulated private bus runs which 'prey' on vulnerable tourists is it?

I've always thought it gave such a negative impression of the truly excellent Government run Bus services from the main stations.

Good to see some attempt at clamping down on this. Theft, rip off prices and lies about route and comfort are not good but more important is the real lack of safety on these buses.

It has been going on for years. Even your bags stowed under the bus are vulnerable. It seems someone is riding in with the bags and rifling through them while the bus travels along. So its best to keep all your valuables with you in a day pack and dont let go of it.

I agree, nothing new.

The Railway was showing travellers a card warning of potenial robbers,

over 20 years ago.

Good to know the old traditions are not dying out.