Criime Against Falangs, Is It Common?

[dude123]

My wife is Thai and pulling my arm to move to Thailand. I have been warned by everyone and their mother, all mostly Thai people by the way, that Falangs are always targeted, esssepcially in more remote areas if they have a house, or a house near a beach. They keep saying chances are the house will be robbed several times as Thai's think falangs are all rich. If true, this would confirm that Thailand really is a 3rd world country, but I would like to think better if anyone could be honest with me here. Just the thought that Bangkok ariport has the airport mafia makes me think things are very backward in Thailand, but I really only know what many seeminly nice thai people have told me who have my best interest at heart. Canada is a very peaceful country overall and the idea of having massive security and 3 dogs at a house in thailand doesn't excite me very much.

[jumnien]

I've been here ten years and haven't had a problem. Very peaceful life amongst nice people. However, I do watch myself in the areas where other farang congregate to their rampant alcoholism, drug addiction and lack of moral values.

[bkkjames]

My wife is Thai and pulling my arm to move to Thailand. I have been warned by everyone and their mother, all mostly Thai people by the way, that Falangs are always targeted, esssepcially in more remote areas if they have a house, or a house near a beach. They keep saying chances are the house will be robbed several times as Thai's think falangs are all rich. If true, this would confirm that Thailand really is a 3rd world country, but I would like to think better if anyone could be honest with me here. Just the thought that Bangkok ariport has the airport mafia makes me think things are very backward in Thailand, but I really only know what many seeminly nice thai people have told me who have my best interest at heart. Canada is a very peaceful country overall and the idea of having massive security and 3 dogs at a house in thailand doesn't excite me very much.

At least her mother has the niceness to warn you that she will target you., most don't get that chance.

All in all it's relatively safe here (touch wood) for farangs as long as you mind your Ps and Qs. Only get worried if the family starts asking you to build houses, buying land for them in combination with checking out your neck size from time to time for all the new shirts they are gonna buy you.

[dude123]

My wife is Thai and pulling my arm to move to Thailand. I have been warned by everyone and their mother, all mostly Thai people by the way, that Falangs are always targeted, esssepcially in more remote areas if they have a house, or a house near a beach. They keep saying chances are the house will be robbed several times as Thai's think falangs are all rich. If true, this would confirm that Thailand really is a 3rd world country, but I would like to think better if anyone could be honest with me here. Just the thought that Bangkok ariport has the airport mafia makes me think things are very backward in Thailand, but I really only know what many seeminly nice thai people have told me who have my best interest at heart. Canada is a very peaceful country overall and the idea of having massive security and 3 dogs at a house in thailand doesn't excite me very much.

At least her mother has the niceness to warn you that she will target you., most don't get that chance.

All in all it's relatively safe here (touch wood) for farangs as long as you mind your Ps and Qs. Only get worried if the family starts asking you to build houses, buying land for them in combination with checking out your neck size from time to time for all the new shirts they are gonna buy you.

Well, your answer is odd to me, because my wife asked me to buy land for her, she keeps buying me lots of shirts, and is asking me to hire her daughters boyfriend to build houses for me LOL! I'm not joking, it is really the truth.

[barky]

Hi this is a difficult decission for you. Westeners come to Thailand for many reasons, some good some bad. Some fit in well some don't and really should be thinking about getting out for good. I know one person that often complains about Thais (not the country itself) for lots of reasons and has left Thailand for good 4 times that I know of...so?. Some people, after they have been here fro a while, cannot go back to their home country because often they can't afford to, or all their family and friends (network) have moved on, so they kinda get stuck here.

Really is your life in Canada so bad? You would be better off there in the long run I think. Or, maybe if you have a house there don't sell it (rent it out) and come here for a year and see how you feel.

You will have to make a lot of adjustments to views on many things and need to be rreeaall flexible because Thais (if you let them) will do your head in right proper. Oh, and all those ideals you may have, forget most of them as they don't apply here.

Good luck.

[A_Traveller]

It is to be noted that the OP's mother in law is raising the concern. One might want to dig a little deeper there I think. Despite SR07 usual, possibly pharmaceutically heightened nonsense, Thailand is on balance a safe place, but it is not a place of shades of grey, one finds that a perceived slight can become a casus bellum, for a Thai more rapidly then Caucasians are familiar with, so caution is advised.

Regards

Edited July 2, 2008 by A_Traveller

[bkkjames]

My wife is Thai and pulling my arm to move to Thailand. I have been warned by everyone and their mother, all mostly Thai people by the way, that Falangs are always targeted, esssepcially in more remote areas if they have a house, or a house near a beach. They keep saying chances are the house will be robbed several times as Thai's think falangs are all rich. If true, this would confirm that Thailand really is a 3rd world country, but I would like to think better if anyone could be honest with me here. Just the thought that Bangkok ariport has the airport mafia makes me think things are very backward in Thailand, but I really only know what many seeminly nice thai people have told me who have my best interest at heart. Canada is a very peaceful country overall and the idea of having massive security and 3 dogs at a house in thailand doesn't excite me very much.

At least her mother has the niceness to warn you that she will target you., most don't get that chance.

All in all it's relatively safe here (touch wood) for farangs as long as you mind your Ps and Qs. Only get worried if the family starts asking you to build houses, buying land for them in combination with checking out your neck size from time to time for all the new shirts they are gonna buy you.

Well, your answer is odd to me, because my wife asked me to buy land for her, she keeps buying me lots of shirts, and is asking me to hire her daughters boyfriend to build houses for me LOL! I'm not joking, it is really the truth.

Well, odd as it may be, it was somewhat tongue in cheek. But if you can't get to sleep tonight because of visions of plastic bags, heights, handcuffs and / or drive byes, don't say I didn't warn you. LOL

[PattayaParent]

Statistically speaking I'd say that crime is more common against Thais due to the fact that there's a lot more of them here than Farangs.

[RakJungTorlae]

Well, your answer is odd to me, because my wife asked me to buy land for her, she keeps buying me lots of shirts, and is asking me to hire her daughters boyfriend to build houses for me LOL! I'm not joking, it is really the truth.

Yes very common.

[bkkjames]

Statistically speaking I'd say that crime is more common against Thais due to the fact that there's a lot more of them here than Farangs.

Do you work for TAT or something, stats like those you cant just make up. Brilliant.

[A_Traveller]

Statistically speaking I'd say that crime is more common against Thais due to the fact that there's a lot more of them here than Farangs.

No that's just bad maths

Regards

[GuestHouse]

Statistically speaking I'd say that crime is more common against Thais due to the fact that there's a lot more of them here than Farangs.

You'd have to demonstrate that with statistics. I have no doubt that 'most victims of crime are Thai' I suspect you'd find that foreigners suffer a disproportionate amount of crime based on a per capita basis.

The point there being that as the OP is being advised - Foreigners may be targetted by criminals on the basis of their wealth.

[jumnien]

Most crime against Thais involves alcohol and drug abuse. That probably, in a nutshell, describes most crime against farangs as well.

[dude123]

Hi this is a difficult decission for you. Westeners come to Thailand for many reasons, some good some bad. Some fit in well some don't and really should be thinking about getting out for good. I know one person that often complains about Thais (not the country itself) for lots of reasons and has left Thailand for good 4 times that I know of...so?. Some people, after they have been here fro a while, cannot go back to their home country because often they can't afford to, or all their family and friends (network) have moved on, so they kinda get stuck here.

Really is your life in Canada so bad? You would be better off there in the long run I think. Or, maybe if you have a house there don't sell it (rent it out) and come here for a year and see how you feel.

You will have to make a lot of adjustments to views on many things and need to be rreeaall flexible because Thais (if you let them) will do your head in right proper. Oh, and all those ideals you may have, forget most of them as they don't apply here.

Good luck.

Thanks all for your input so far, nice to read it all, I really mean it. Barky, our life in Canada is really good. A very good business, nice house, everything paid for and we live in a smaller city surrounded by mountains and lakes. I tell my wife often that life is good and nobody bothers us and do we really need to move to Thailand. House break ins are unheard of , but honestly the weather can suck here and I think maybe that is the one factor that is somewhat motivating me to at least give Thailand a try. Staying a year in Thailand and keeping our house here is a great idea to get the feel for everything. I was born in Australia and in my teenage years moved to Austria and Germany, and it wasn't fun being treated like a falang in Europe at all. I hated it. When I immigrated to Canada, everybody was just decent and friendly and have never felt more welcome in my life. I have told my wife that if I live in Thailand, no matter how you look at it, I will always be a falang there whereas here in Canada, just living for 4 years, my wife does not feel like a foreigner at all here.

Edited July 2, 2008 by dude123

[bonobo]

My gut feeling is that most of the serious crimes against foreigners happen in places like Pattaya where people who pursue the more sordid pleasures tend to congregate, and the Thais who want to prey on them congregate. A friend of mine is addicted to one of the Pattaya-based websites, and when we are together, he continually points out the crime stories there.

Expats I have met who live upcountry have never complained to me about crime, and while there are very few farangs living near me in Thon Buri, I haven't seen any evidence of crime at all.

[Furbie]

My wife is Thai and pulling my arm to move to Thailand. I have been warned by everyone and their mother, all mostly Thai people by the way, that Falangs are always targeted, esssepcially in more remote areas if they have a house, or a house near a beach. They keep saying chances are the house will be robbed several times as Thai's think falangs are all rich. If true, this would confirm that Thailand really is a 3rd world country, but I would like to think better if anyone could be honest with me here. Just the thought that Bangkok ariport has the airport mafia makes me think things are very backward in Thailand, but I really only know what many seeminly nice thai people have told me who have my best interest at heart. Canada is a very peaceful country overall and the idea of having massive security and 3 dogs at a house in thailand doesn't excite me very much.

Random violence against foreigners is less here than against Thais (though with the way things are going these days, it may be changing). However, there is a lot of nuisance and petty crime against Westerners and some crime is specifically targeted against Westerners. All in all, it also has a lot to do with where you settle down and who you interact with.

Finally, that is an odd statement for her to make. By chance, are you or your GF sending money back to Thailand?

[bkkjames]

Hi this is a difficult decission for you. Westeners come to Thailand for many reasons, some good some bad. Some fit in well some don't and really should be thinking about getting out for good. I know one person that often complains about Thais (not the country itself) for lots of reasons and has left Thailand for good 4 times that I know of...so?. Some people, after they have been here fro a while, cannot go back to their home country because often they can't afford to, or all their family and friends (network) have moved on, so they kinda get stuck here.

Really is your life in Canada so bad? You would be better off there in the long run I think. Or, maybe if you have a house there don't sell it (rent it out) and come here for a year and see how you feel.

You will have to make a lot of adjustments to views on many things and need to be rreeaall flexible because Thais (if you let them) will do your head in right proper. Oh, and all those ideals you may have, forget most of them as they don't apply here.

Good luck.

Thanks all for your input so far, nice to read it all, I really mean it. Barky, our life in Canada is really good. A very good business, nice house, everything paid for and we live in a smaller city surrounded by mountains and lakes. I tell my wife often that life is good hear, nobody bothers us and do we really need to move to Thailand. House break ins are unheard of here, but honestly the weather can suck here and I think maybe that is the one factor that is somewhat motivating me to at least give Thailand a try. Staying a year in Thailand and keeping our house here is a great idea to get the feel for everything.

Just stay half a year here at a time, I grew up in the worst weather in Canada and can tell you that while Nov to March can be bloody awfully cold in Canada, April to June can be just the opposite here. This way you get nice weather all year round. Another consideration is where you would stay in Thailand? You might adjust to Bangkok easier than some very rural area if you are used to your creature comforts. Anyways, give it a try, I think all of us on here, bitching from time to time about the place, would not trade it for back home.

[lardy]

My gut feeling is that most of the serious crimes against foreigners happen in places like Pattaya where people who pursue the more sordid pleasures tend to congregate, and the Thais who want to prey on them congregate. A friend of mine is addicted to one of the Pattaya-based websites, and when we are together, he continually points out the crime stories there.

Expats I have met who live upcountry have never complained to me about crime, and while there are very few farangs living near me in Thon Buri, I haven't seen any evidence of crime at all.

Sounds about right to me.

[slapout]

Lived in Thailand for most of the past 16 years. During that time my Thai wife has been pickpocketed 2 times, involved in 2 vehicle hit and run (receiveing end), and arguments with her family numerous times. I have not been involved in any thing similiar. I am bigger than she is by 70 lbs and no where near as pretty (kind of ugly in fact), so thats one side of it. Granted I don't make a habit of being out at 0400 in the rough parts of town nor getting falling down drunk at some local gun and knife club. Buy your wife the land for her family to take care, find non family to build your house 100 + mile away from your land and enjoy your life. The last is kind of tongue in cheek.

[PhilHarries]

I've been here ten years and haven't had a problem. Very peaceful life amongst nice people. However, I do watch myself in the areas where other farang congregate to their rampant alcoholism, drug addiction and lack of moral values.

Boy you know all the best places to go, must be your vast experience in those fields.

In twelve years living in Pattaya (5 yrs) and east of sukhumvit (7 yrs) I was burgled once in the house in Pattaya. In the whole time I was in Thailand I was dipped (pickpocketted) once. But my house outside town had metal grilles on the windows and the back yard had a cage over it.

Pattaya is considered a high risk area to live as a lot of the Thai criminals are attracted by the large concentration of expats. As long as you don't piss people off, don't flash your wealth around it's probably safer than most other countries. Thing to remember is that poverty drives people to look for easy pickings so don't make yourself a target.

And ignore Sunrie07's comment, sure there are some bad b@st@ds amongst the expats but there are also some genuine good ones. No different to the Thais really.

[dude123]

Finally, that is an odd statement for her to make. By chance, are you or your GF sending money back to Thailand?

yes, she sends back about $200 CDN every month to her sister, but it comes out of her own salary as we have a tour business. We talk a lot about Thailand and she says if we stay in Canada, that she will be just fine too. I have to admit though, she does carry her weight in our business and is very dedicated, so I can't complain at all about that. She is a real sweet heart with a real paranoid side to her!

[jumnien]

I've been here ten years and haven't had a problem. Very peaceful life amongst nice people. However, I do watch myself in the areas where other farang congregate to their rampant alcoholism, drug addiction and lack of moral values.

Boy you know all the best places to go, must be your vast experience in those fields.

In twelve years living in Pattaya (5 yrs) and east of sukhumvit (7 yrs) I was burgled once in the house in Pattaya. In the whole time I was in Thailand I was dipped (pickpocketted) once. But my house outside town had metal grilles on the windows and the back yard had a cage over it.

Pattaya is considered a high risk area to live as a lot of the Thai criminals are attracted by the large concentration of expats. As long as you don't piss people off, don't flash your wealth around it's probably safer than most other countries. Thing to remember is that poverty drives people to look for easy pickings so don't make yourself a target.

And ignore Sunrie07's comment, sure there are some bad b@st@ds amongst the expats but there are also some genuine good ones. No different to the Thais really.

Taken to task by a man from Pattaya! Now I've heard everything!

[clausewitz]

nor getting falling down drunk at some local gun and knife club.

[Theyreallrubbish]

15 years in Thailand and never suffered a single crime. This is despite being falling down drunk on more occassions than I care (or am able) to remember and hanging out in less salubrious places on numerous occasions. I also lived in an isolated house for quite a while with a temporary camp of construction workers near by building out a housing estate and no problems at all. Although they did make cat calls to my GF that stopped when the head of security turned up threatening to shoot anyone who did it again!

Although I've never been a victim of crime anywhere else except in Scotland where my car was broken into on a monthly basis.

[Furbie]

Finally, that is an odd statement for her to make. By chance, are you or your GF sending money back to Thailand?

yes, she sends back about $200 CDN every month to her sister, but it comes out of her own salary as we have a tour business. We talk a lot about Thailand and she says if we stay in Canada, that she will be just fine too. I have to admit though, she does carry her weight in our business and is very dedicated, so I can't complain at all about that. She is a real sweet heart with a real paranoid side to her!

Please allow me to play the odds, even though I don’t know much about her situation. I would speculate the family does not want to lose the income stream.

[farang555]

things sounded so good 4 op till he states his wife is a paranoia freak. so many tell us how great their thai ladies r then drop the bomb of how looney they r, never fails.

please tell us more!

Edited July 2, 2008 by farang555

[dude123]

things sounded so good 4 op till he states his wife is a paranoia freak. so many tell us how great their thai ladies r then drop the bomb of how looney they r, never fails.

please tell us more!

I guess it is common then as I thought I was the only one My brother lives 20 minutes away and for 2 years she won't say a word to him, Not hello or goodbye, and he is so discouraged that he never comes over anymore to our house. He is my buddy and my best friend, but she seems to be so possesive and wants to make it that I can't talk to my family. We have butted heads with this more than once, so she just took the next step and goes as much out of her way as possible to make them feel unwelcome. She was so paranoid that when I bought the house here, she went bonkers to make sure I will put it in hers and my name too, which I did of course, but she was so untrusting that she thought I would put it in my and my brothers name. I have never had to deal ever in my family or friends with such mistrust, so it is still all new to me. I did hear that it takes on average 20 years for a thai to trust anyone, but this is ridiculous, especially since he has been nothing but nice to her. In other ways she is a real sweetheart and cooks for me even when I tell her she doesn't need to. My brother is just my brother and never overstepped his boundaries over here and always used to just come for an occasional coffee.

The other thing is that she always talks about a "plan". She always thinks I have a "plan". I guess when I'm dead and 6 feet under, I will finally realize what "plan" I have supposedly cooked up. It is getting old though and I do my best to ignore it and live a happy life.

Edited July 2, 2008 by dude123

[alexth]

Never had a problem in 4 years. The only idiots that you can usually run into a fight are the foreigners.

[dude123]

Finally, that is an odd statement for her to make. By chance, are you or your GF sending money back to Thailand?

yes, she sends back about $200 CDN every month to her sister, but it comes out of her own salary as we have a tour business. We talk a lot about Thailand and she says if we stay in Canada, that she will be just fine too. I have to admit though, she does carry her weight in our business and is very dedicated, so I can't complain at all about that. She is a real sweet heart with a real paranoid side to her!

Please allow me to play the odds, even though I don't know much about her situation. I would speculate the family does not want to lose the income stream.

I have to admit, although her family comes from a very poor background in Thailand, they have never asked me for anything and do have their witts about them. They even joked about now that we were married, I need to pay them big money as it is Thai tradition, but they were really joking and said that was the old thai way of doing things in the past and some still beleive in it, but they never did.

Edited July 2, 2008 by dude123

[vagabond48]

If you can afford it, have you considered living in both countries? I know an older French man who started a new family here about 7 years ago. He divides his time equally between Thailand and returning to France with his Thai wife and their daughter during the spring and summer. He seems to be quite happy. Sounds like the best of both worlds.