Fake rescue workers 'rob bodies'

Some rescue workers and police - or people posing as them - have stolen from bodies or looted stores wrecked by the tsunami, a report in Thailand said today.

Authorities said many corpses have been found without wallets, making identification harder.

Police on the resort island of Phuket received complaints that a man posing as a police officer pried open a jewellery store safe and stole items worth three million baht ($99,000), The Nation newspaper reported.

On the devastated resort island of Phi Phi a 200-strong team of rescue workers from a foundation left abruptly after a police search found 20 of them had items stolen from bodies, the paper said.

It said police were posted at the pier on the mainland to search returning rescuers and check the identities of those travelling to Phi Phi.

The strict checks would prevent looting on the island, Krabi province deputy governor Thirathep Sriyaphan was quoted as saying.

"We are not sure whether the wallets were stolen or washed away by the waves," Krabi police chief Sermphan Singthong said.

Thieves also stole relief goods from a centre in the worst-hit province of Phang Nga.

Some 600 extra police were sent to the province earlier this week to prevent looting and 13 Burmese migrant workers were arrested.

Police have promised tough penalties for looters and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has described them as "very bad guys".

Thousands of Thais have volunteered to take part in genuine relief and rescue operations.

--AFP 2004-12-31

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Asia-Tsunami/Th...l?oneclick=true

surprise surprise - Patong is the pits of the south, attracting all the <deleted> from all parts of this country and the world. I guess the 13 burmese did all the robbing/looting

Yeah, somehow the Burmese are invisible here until a major catastrophe strikes. Then all of a sudden they seem to be everywhere

Police arrest 17 looters

BANGKOK: -- Police operating in Thailand's southern provinces affected by Sunday's tsunamis have arrested 17 people for looting, the head of the Royal Thai Police's information division confirmed today.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Worathep Methawat said that police had arrested 13 Thais and four Myanmar nationals, while security centres staffed by police officers and local officials had been set up on Koh Phi Phi in Phang-nga Province and Phuket to help control the situation.

Looters could face maximum sentences of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Bt50,000.

--TNA 2004-12-31

Police arrest 17 looters

BANGKOK: -- Police operating in Thailand's southern provinces affected by Sunday's tsunamis have arrested 17 people for looting, the head of the Royal Thai Police's information division confirmed today.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Worathep Methawat said that police had arrested 13 Thais and four Myanmar nationals, while security centres staffed by police officers and local officials had been set up on Koh Phi Phi in Phang-nga Province and Phuket to help control the situation.

Looters could face maximum sentences of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Bt50,000.

--TNA 2004-12-31

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hope they are made examples of amd hung for treason.