Airport Workers Stole And Sold Thousands Of Baggage Trolleys

[sriracha john]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

AoT workers 'stole and sold trolleys'

Two Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) inspectors have been suspended and accused of stealing thousands of baggage trolleys from Suvarnabhumi airport in the past four months. The two suspects are allegedly members of a gang that stole the trolleys and then sold them. AoT Corporate Communication Director Monrudee Ketphan said the two workers have been suspended and the company is taking disciplinary and legal action against them. Prateep Wichittho, Suvarnabhumi Airport's Deputy Director of Operations, said security was tight at the Bangkok airport, but the suspects were AoT staff members who claimed they were taking the trolleys away for repairs. According to an AoT source, there were 9,000 trolleys available for use by travellers when Suvarnabhumi airport opened two years ago, but only 5,000 remain in use today. The remainder are either under repair or have been stolen. For the airport's opening in September 2006, AoT purchased the trolleys at 25,000 baht apiece. AoT Chairman Vudhibhandu Vichairatana said there are not enough trolleys to serve passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. Besides, their have been complaints the trolleys are too heavy and also that people in the terminal have been hurt by them. Mr Vudhibhandu ordered the AoT management to have the remaining trolleys improved. Acquisition of new trolleys is possible but AoT should not pay for them. Operators should be encouraged to deploy new trolleys paid for by advertisements on

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/250908_News/25Sep2008_news09.php

[MrBrick]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

AoT workers 'stole and sold trolleys'

Two Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) inspectors have been suspended and accused of stealing thousands of baggage trolleys from Suvarnabhumi airport in the past four months. The two suspects are allegedly members of a gang that stole the trolleys and then sold them. AoT Corporate Communication Director Monrudee Ketphan said the two workers have been suspended and the company is taking disciplinary and legal action against them. Prateep Wichittho, Suvarnabhumi Airport's Deputy Director of Operations, said security was tight at the Bangkok airport, but the suspects were AoT staff members who claimed they were taking the trolleys away for repairs. According to an AoT source, there were 9,000 trolleys available for use by travellers when Suvarnabhumi airport opened two years ago, but only 5,000 remain in use today. The remainder are either under repair or have been stolen. For the airport's opening in September 2006, AoT purchased the trolleys at 25,000 baht apiece. AoT Chairman Vudhibhandu Vichairatana said there are not enough trolleys to serve passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. Besides, their have been complaints the trolleys are too heavy and also that people in the terminal have been hurt by them. Mr Vudhibhandu ordered the AoT management to have the remaining trolleys improved. Acquisition of new trolleys is possible but AoT should not pay for them. Operators should be encouraged to deploy new trolleys paid for by advertisements on

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/250908_News/25Sep2008_news09.php

What????? 25 farking thousand farking Baht for a trolley?????

Has th world gone mad???

[sriracha john]

According to an AoT source, there were 9,000 trolleys available for use by travellers when Suvarnabhumi airport opened two years ago, but only 5,000 remain in use today.

What????? 25 farking thousand farking Baht for a trolley?????

Has th world gone mad???

and multiple that by 4,000 trolleys comes out to a nice tidy sum for the thieves...

Edited September 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[goonerthegooner]

25 large for a trolley,well 20 large went too Taksin,and the remaining 5 too the company for producing it.

[PhilHarries]

Actually 25k Baht is not a bad price for an airport trolley, they are a bit more substantial than your supermarket trolleys (well they have to survive the Weho escalator test).

And, chances are, they'll only get scrap value for them as there's not exacly a thriving market in Thailand in airport trolleys (bit of a giveaway trying to fence them).

But four thousand trolleys in four months works out at roughly 35 per day. Not exactly an undercover operation so there must be more in on it.

[PoorSucker]

Actually 25k Baht is not a bad price for an airport trolley, they are a bit more substantial than your supermarket trolleys (well they have to survive the Weho escalator test).

And, chances are, they'll only get scrap value for them as there's not exacly a thriving market in Thailand in airport trolleys (bit of a giveaway trying to fence them).

But four thousand trolleys in four months works out at roughly 35 per day. Not exactly an undercover operation so there must be more in on it.

Thaksin gets 80% of the scrap value.

[0Mix1up]

he has to quote that figure to allow for skimming on the replacements

i would bet there wouldn't even have been 4000 ever anyway

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

The Aot inspectors must have been working full time at stealing the trolleys. But unless they are going to another airport what good would they be?

[Kerryd]

Hmmmm, 9,000 trolleys at 25,000 apiece (about $715 US each) = 225,000,000 baht.

225 million baht. Wow. About $6,430,000 US.

This is a few years old (9), but compare:

This week 1800 new trolleys have rolled into Melbourne as part of a new contract awarded to Smarte Carte.

The trolleys, which are made in Melbourne, cost $650 (A) each (about $543 US currently).

Wonder where Swampy's carts were made ?

[lazeeboy]

The Aot inspectors must have been working full time at stealing the trolleys. But unless they are going to another airport what good would they be?

scrap metal

[sriracha john]

The Aot inspectors must have been working full time at stealing the trolleys. But unless they are going to another airport what good would they be?

Break them down into multiple parts.... more suitable for resell for other purposes and much more valuable that way than just being sold as scrap.

Police show parts of stolen trolleys of Suvarnabhumi Airport confiscated from 2 suspects on Thursday.

The Nation

[george]

Trolley thieves apprehended At Airport

SUVARNABHUMI: -- A member of Suvarnabhumi Airport cleaning staff and his friend were arrested yesterday. Evidence of some 500 stolen luggage trolleys worth Bt8.5 million was also seized.

The arrests followed recent complaints of insufficient trolleys at the international airport and the discovery that some 2,000 out of 9,000 trolleys were missing.

Police were alerted at 2.30 am yesterday that two men in a pickup truck had tried to smuggle five trolleys out of the airport but were stopped at Parking Lot Building 3.

The cleaning staff member, Supakorn Klawikrit, 29, and friend Abhisit Nhopuutharangkul, 33, reportedly confessed that they had been stealing trolleys since March.

The duo said they took three or four trolleys each time, usually during weekend nights, and sold them to a scrap shop in Nong Chok district for Bt960 per trolley.

Police then raided the scrap shop and found the parts of some 500 trolleys there. The shop owner was interrogated and the parts, later identified by the supplier as those in service at the airport, were seized as evidence.

Each trolley was worth Bt17,000, thus the retrieved 500 trolleys were worth about Bt8.5 million in total.

In two previous cases, alleged trolley thieves were arrested and their trials are proceeding. Since this recent arrest revealed the largest number of stolen trolleys, police suspect there are more groups stealing trolleys and aim for further investigations and arrests.

Samut Prakan governor Anuwat Methiwibulwut said that he would report the property thefts at the airport to the Provincial Administration Department to push for scrap shops in the area to stop trading in stolen items.

Airport deputy chief Captain Pratheep Wichittoe said more security cameras would be installed at the airport while police and security guards would increase surveillance.

-- The Nation 2008-09-26

[Florin]

It's nice how the two "news" reports have absolutely no clue about the facts...were 2000 or 4000 trolleys stolen? Are they worth 17.000 or 25.000 Baht each?

[AlKing]

It's nice how the two "news" reports have absolutely no clue about the facts...were 2000 or 4000 trolleys stolen? Are they worth 17.000 or 25.000 Baht each?

17.000 or 25.000 Baht each, depending if it is the actual invoice, or the modified invoice sent to the procurement department.

[PhilHarries]

They're all off their trolleys anyway, where is Weho when you need him. He'd track down the trolleys with ease, although he's probably behind the thefts, angry because he can't take them down the escalators..

As for the price of the trolleys let's not forget there are always two prices on everything. There's the one they paid and the one on the insurance policy.

Standard operating procedure. Who ever reads of a person getting robbed of 350 Baht and a cheap digital watch? As a minimum it's in the tens of thousands, plus a genuine Rolex plus a five Baht chain.

[Cuban]

Airport deputy chief Captain Pratheep Wichittoe said more security cameras would be installed at the airport while police and security guards would increase surveillance.

Wipes spilt coffee from keyboard...

[sriracha john]

It's nice how the two "news" reports have absolutely no clue about the facts...were 2000 or 4000 trolleys stolen? Are they worth 17.000 or 25.000 Baht each?

Also.... the perpetrators went from being "AoT Inspectors" to being a "cleaning staff member and a friend" ....

One of few things they agree on was that Suvarnabhumi was the airport involved.

[brahmburgers]

An average of about 30 trolleys per say - surely airport security personnel are in on it, or at least looked the other way. Somehow I won't feel very secure when I go to the airport - with security forces like that in force.

[Florin]

Somehow I won't feel very secure when I go to the airport - with security forces like that in force.

As opposed to the excellent, incorruptible airport security present in...? Aren't the US TSA employees losers off various other law enforcement branches?

[sriracha john]

Somehow I won't feel very secure when I go to the airport - with security forces like that in force.

Were you talking about the security at This Airport?

In January, a Burmese man managed to board a flight after jumping over the airport's security fence. He had eluded security and was apprehended only when cabin crew noticed his dirty, bare feet.

Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport Serirat Prasutanont has ordered security personnel and baggage claim personnel to take stringent measures on insuring the safety of passenger luggage both for domestic and international flights.

Strict checks are to be conducted as to people passing through the areas. The airport is also expediting the installation of closed circuit cameras.

Latest news reveal that authorities in the airport have apprehended 5 suspects, all employees, linked to the thefts of valuable items in April.

BANGKOK: -- A manhunt is on for two robbers who made off with more than Bt3 million from a Bangkok Bank branch at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday.

One teller was injured and the two armed robbers gagged and bound the bank's nine staff before making off with the cash.

Edited September 26, 2008 by sriracha john

[Jimjim]

What could be next? Good lord, this conspiracy ranks right up there with the Saudi gems case.

[mgjackson69]

Somehow I won't feel very secure when I go to the airport - with security forces like that in force.

As opposed to the excellent, incorruptible airport security present in...? Aren't the US TSA employees losers off various other law enforcement branches?

No, TSA are wannabe cops who can't qualify to be a real police officer...not that police are so smart either.

TSA are only slightly smarter than that other brain trust...prison guards. You know, those people who voluntarily put themselves in prison as a career.

[annamaria4711]

25,000 bth / 69 = 362.00 (GBP)

543 USD / 1.80 = 301 (GBP)

that is how much those rudy things costs...you ought to see how much the seating costs !!!

Hmmmm, 9,000 trolleys at 25,000 apiece (about $715 US each) = 225,000,000 baht.

225 million baht. Wow. About $6,430,000 US.

This is a few years old (9), but compare:

This week 1800 new trolleys have rolled into Melbourne as part of a new contract awarded to Smarte Carte.

The trolleys, which are made in Melbourne, cost $650 (A) each (about $543 US currently).

Wonder where Swampy's carts were made ?

[Tawai]

Remember reading in Bangkok Post about 2 years ago that AOT bought from a company called something like "Phuket Petroleum" the trolleys for a higher price than this only 24,000 THB. If I remember correct the order was for 500,000,000.-THB (500 million!!) This trolleys order has been also a corruption topic because PP was not able to deliver the order on time and in required quality.

Wanzl from Germany which is probably the worlds leading company in this field was not able to get the contract, because they would have provided them for FREE !! Condition on that deal would have been that Wanzl would have wanted the marketing rights for PR on the trolleys (as it is common at airports).

Well, looks like Wanzl is not related to Khun T or was willing to fork out 200 mills or more for "contract fees".

Well this was from Bangkok Post, I believe the story, what I can not "believe" or understand is the fact that deals like that dont go before the courts here.

[PeaceBlondie]

Old US military joke...I will make it Thailand specific.

Military policeman at Ubong AB notices Somchai leaves the base every day to go home. Somchai always wheels a barrow containing one red brick and some straw. Every day. Near the end of his tour in Thaiand, the MP pulls Somchai over to the side and whispers, "Hey, mai bpen rai. I do not care if you are stealing. I just want to know what you are stealing. One brick a day? Straw?" Somchai whispers, "Wheelbarrows!"

[sriracha john]

the saga continues...

MISSING TROLLEYS

AoT to investigate thefts

The Board of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) is still undecided whether it should hold Thai Airports Ground Services (TAGS), the luggage trolley operator, responsible for the shortage of baggage carts at Suvarnabhumi airport. Acting AoT President Serirat Prasutanond said the shortage of trolleys was a serious problem, but since it was caused by theft it was not really TAGS' fault. The AoT Board yesterday resolved to investigate the matter itself and appointed Board member Thaworn Panitpan, a Deputy Attorney-General, to lead the inquiry. The result is expected by Monday. Serirat denied claims the AoT management was ignoring the issue. However, Suvarnabhumi airport Deputy Director Chat Hanpattananant said TAGS should also be held responsible because it was required, under its contract, to keep the number of baggage trolleys in service at 9,000 around-the-clock. The company would be fined and his procurement committee would determine the exact number of missing trolleys. A 2,000 baht fine has been set for every missing trolley. Of the 9,000 trolleys TAGS was asked to supply at Suvarnabhumi, 2,000 are small and large trolleys for the inner areas of the passenger terminal, and 7,000 are medium-sized trolleys for use in the outer areas of the terminal and the parking lot. About 2,000 medium-sized trolleys have been stolen.

Police have arrested two men after finding five stolen trolleys in their pick-up truck in the parking lot of the airport. The arrested men led police to a scrapyard in Nong Chok district where police found parts from another 500 baggage trolleys. Two AoT staff members are also suspected of being members of the ring. In its third year of operation, Suvarnabhumi airport will have enough baggage trolleys, including new ones, that would be better looking and more user-friendly, Serirat said. "There will be 755 new surveillance cameras installed in addition to the existing 1,074. Seats in the passenger terminal will be upholstered and the glass roof of the terminal will be tinted. *and it took only 2 years to figure out those were needed* "We want Suvarnabhumi to be included in the list of the world's top

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/300908_News/30Sep2008_news06.php

Edited September 30, 2008 by sriracha john

[torrenova]

So you order 9000, they deliver 4000 and start to steal them to make up the 9000 needed. Eventually, they realise only 5000 exist (numbers not correct but you get the jist of it).

Not rocket science in LOS is it ?

[prefabs]

This thread has got me flabbergasted. From day one, I have always thougt the trolleys were second hand from Don Muang. They never looked new to me and I was never impressed with them

[brahmburgers]

How do you steal a trolley? Do you get a p.u. truck, park it 'Arrivals' and roll over some trolleys and load 'em up? Ok, I jest, but even if you do it somewhat clandestine, like around at one of the service entrances, there must be all sorts of people who would be aware of it happening.

Trolleys are big, unwieldy and noisy. If I were a thief, I'd steal something more manageable, like mobile phones or laptop computers. What's next for SUV thieves, large desks? toilets? stainless steel cables holding up the walls? Oops, better not give them ideas.

Edited October 23, 2008 by brahmburgers

[sriracha john]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

AoT workers 'stole and sold trolleys'

Two Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) inspectors have been suspended and accused of stealing thousands of baggage trolleys from Suvarnabhumi airport in the past four months. The two suspects are allegedly members of a gang that stole the trolleys and then sold them. AoT Corporate Communication Director Monrudee Ketphan said the two workers have been suspended and the company is taking disciplinary and legal action against them. Prateep Wichittho, Suvarnabhumi Airport's Deputy Director of Operations, said security was tight at the Bangkok airport, but the suspects were AoT staff members who claimed they were taking the trolleys away for repairs. According to an AoT source, there were 9,000 trolleys available for use by travellers when Suvarnabhumi airport opened two years ago, but only 5,000 remain in use today. The remainder are either under repair or have been stolen.

UPDATE... and now, there's even only half that number...

Findings of Suvarnabhumi Trolley's Probe to Be Concluded in 15-Days

The President of the Airport Thailand Public Company Limited is to solve the trolley controversy with Thai Airports Ground Services (TAGS) within 15 days.

Committee Chairman of the Airports of Thailand (AOT), Piyapan Jumpasud, revealed that they will have a meeting to discuss the Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Sareerat Prasutanon , who resigned to apply a position as Managing Director of the AOT.

During the meeting, the details of the trolley contract with TAGS will not be considered. The sub-committee working on solving the trolley controversy has asked Suvarnabhumi Airport President Tanapich Moolpruek to postpone the case by 15 days.

The Board asked the sub-committee to present the results of their work on April 9th. The AOT wants to examine TAGS accounts, including its income statement, before approval.

Moreover, they want TAGS to confirm that they are able to find the 9,034 missing trolleys, because TAGS currently has only 2,700 carts, according to a report on February 27th.

Meanwhile, the committee will prepare to support the domestic flights operated by Thai Airways that will move to Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 29th. The AOT has already prepared facilities such as check-in counters, toilets, and trolleys.

- TOC / 2009-03-26