Lebanese Tourist Caught Up In Armed Robbery In

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya One News: July 7th 2008

Lebanese Tourist caught up in armed robbery in South Pattaya.

On Sunday Night, Mr. Mohammed Hijazi, a 28 year old Lebanese Tourist and his Thai boyfriend made a complaint at Pattaya Police Station and claimed they had just been robbed at gunpoint by a group of men who claimed they were Pattaya Police Officers.

The incident happened at the South-end of Pattaya Third Road. A group of 4 men on 3 motorbikes approached the two victims who were on their bike travelling towards the Port. The two were ordered to stop by the men who stated they were Police Officers and they had to check them for drugs. The men were carrying two-way radios and guns but were not wearing uniforms and would not produce any ID Badges.

The group ordered the Lebanese man to accompany them to the Police Station; however he was abandoned at the overpass leading to the Bali Hai Port further up Pattaya Third Road. A mobile phone, passport, air ticket and some cash were stolen by the men before they left the tourist on the overpass. CCTV footage is now being examined and the investigation continues.

[Chang_paarp]

It is good that they have some CCTV footage to look at, but one has to ask the value of it as a crime prevention tool. It seems that the images get recorded but no one is looking at them in real time.

I would like to see the quality of the resulting image, some of the one that were released following the murder of the Russian girls needed a lot of work to make them useful.

[PhilHarries]

A lot of people are starting to question the value of CCTV footage in crime prevention and clear up. A recent report in the UK (I'm working from memory so don't ask for sources) claimed that only 3% of crimes are solved leading to a prosecution on the basis of CCTV evidence.

Given that most criminal crime, that is opposed to institutionalised crime (corruption), takes place at night when lighting even at the best location is questionable the CCTV evidence gathered is of equally dubious quality.