Austrian Tourist Stabbed, Robbed By Phuket Youth Gang

[Lite Beer]

Austrian tourist stabbed, robbed by Phuket youth gang

Phuket Gazette

A image taken by cell phone at the scene of the attack shows the slash wound that punctured the Austrian tourist's lung.

PHUKET: An Austrian tourist is recovering from a punctured lung and other injuries sustained in a brutal robbery attack by four knife-wielding youths in Phuket yesterday.

Patong Police identified the victim as Rupert Wilhelmstatter.

Mr Wilhelmstatter, in his early 50s, was returning by motorbike to his hotel in Patong at 1:45pm when the attack occurred. He was returning from Paradise Beach, on the south end of Patong Bay.

The gang members, aboard two motorbikes, approached the Austrian with one bike on each side.

The youngest gang member, aged 13, kicked out at Mr Wilhelmstatter's motorbike, causing him to crash. Mr Wilhelmstatter fought back from the ground, but was stabbed and suffered a punctured lung. The gang then robbed him of 200 baht before making their getaway.

Mr Wilhelmstatter was taken to Patong Hospital for emergency treatment, then transferred to the better-equipped Bangkok Hospital in Phuket Town. A source at the privately-run facility confirmed Mr Wilhelmstatter is in the intensive care unit, but declined to give further details.

Police investigating the incident did not need to travel far to make the first arrests. At an address on Ratchapatanusorn Road, just around the corner from Patong Police Station, they arrested two youths aged 13 and 14 at about 5:30pm.

A search of the premises revealed a sheathed knife and one motorbike, both items suspected of having been used in the robbery. After eyewitnesses at the scene of the attack identified the two boys as having been involved, the teens were taken to Patong Police Station for questioning.

The information obtained led to the arrest of a third youth, aged 15, at a house on Thaweewong Road. Police recovered the other motorbike thought to have been used in the attack on the premises. A fourth member of the gang, the one believed to have stabbed Mr Wilhelmstatter, remains at-large.

Subsequent questioning of the gang members revealed they had been involved in at least two other recent robberies using similar methods.

A 13-year-old member of the gang confessed that on November 30, he and four others robbed a tourist near Tri Trang Beach on Muen Ngern Road, not far from where yesterday's attack took place. At about 5:30pm that day, he and an older boy struck an unidentified foreign man with a wooden club, forcing him off his motorbike. They then threatened him with a knife, robbing him of 200 baht before speeding off.

He also confessed that on the afternoon of December 3 he and four others drove motorbikes to Paradise Beach, where they attacked two tourists aboard a single motorbike. They robbed the pair at knife-point, getting away with a camera, smart phone and 7,000 baht in cash

The 13-year-old admitted to kicking or hitting the tourists to force them from their motorbikes, but denied stabbing Mr Wilhelmstatter.

The youths spent the 200 baht taken from Mr Wilhelmstatter to buy snacks, he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2011/article11632.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-12-07

[steffi]

Clearly he accidentally fell on a knife.

[Oberkommando]

It's the tourist's fault, if he hadn't have been there it never would have happened.

[DocN]

I wonder what punishment awaits them?

Let's see: two young girls, flashing t@ts on Songkhran....bad for Thailands image!

Four young men, kicking, robbing and stabbing a tourist....mai pen rai!

[Jimi007]

I wonder if their fathers are tuk tuk or taxi drivers?

[alstaxi]

It's the tourist's fault, if he hadn't have been there it never would have happened.

Correct, absolutely 100% the tourists fault, he should have stayed home, Phuket, shit hole of Thailand.

[EyesWideOpen]

Phuket is evolving into a cesspool of crime and violence. Sort of sad, as it really is a beautiful island. Think crimes like this one are a natural outgrowth of the lack of any real policing that has the goal of stopping crime. The mafia is in full control of the island, and everyone knows it. These punks must see the stories of the tuk tuk guys beating up tourists, and figured that they would have a try themselves.....

I suppose these crimes will come to an end when embassies start issuing travel warnings for Phuket, and tourism comes to a standstill. THEN you will see some real crackdowns by the police.

[Boater]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

[jonclark]

I hope the police send the bill for this mans hospital treatment and his damaged motorbike to these kids parents (as opposed to the victim or his insurance company). I'm sure that the parents when faced with a bill for a foreigner in ICU at Bangkok hospital and a foreigner motorbike rental repair bill. (even split four ways) will be more than a little annoyed and teach the kids the error of their ways.

[sirchai]

The youths spent the 200 baht taken from Mr Wilhelmstatter to buy snacks, he said.

And my crocodile ban fly...................

[pomchop]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

Don't judge all of Thailand by what happens in Phuket...and to be fair, don't judge all of phuket from the actions of a few...although it does seem more and more that the thugs are multiplying and are in firm control of phuket and have no fear of the local govt or law. When the kids see the taxi mafia do as they dam_n well please with zero repercussions year after year, story after story it likely emboldens them to think why not?

Phuket is a beautiful island that has made just about every wrong decision possible over the past ten years or so.....of course the tourists right now still pour in there and they think it will always continue. But today with the internet stories like this fly around the world in minutes and are picked up by all sorts of travel sites that potential tourist may well visit...eventually it will take it's toll and the quality and quantitity of toursist will decline. Frankly i feel safer in Pattaya than in Phuket and for anyone who has ever lived in Pattaya you know that it isn't exactly the home of the upper crust.

[Bakseedaa]

I hope the police send the bill for this mans hospital treatment and his damaged motorbike to these kids parents (as opposed to the victim or his insurance company). I'm sure that the parents when faced with a bill for a foreigner in ICU at Bangkok hospital and a foreigner motorbike rental repair bill. (even split four ways) will be more than a little annoyed and teach the kids the error of their ways.

Do you really think these kids know who their real parents are......Get a life....!

[jonclark]

I hope the police send the bill for this mans hospital treatment and his damaged motorbike to these kids parents (as opposed to the victim or his insurance company). I'm sure that the parents when faced with a bill for a foreigner in ICU at Bangkok hospital and a foreigner motorbike rental repair bill. (even split four ways) will be more than a little annoyed and teach the kids the error of their ways.

Do you really think these kids know who their real parents are......Get a life....!

Do you know they don't?

[Soutpeel]

It will be interesting to see how this will be spun in the media, lets see how long it takes before the "blame" is put on the victims..

[Randee]

Thailand is dangerous with many bad characters. The streets are not safe after midnight. Too many bad characters out on the prowl "Farang Hunting".

Edited December 7, 2011 by Randee

[TinoThailand]

5 euro

[Hooters]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

Bangkok, considering the population of 11 million there is hardly ever a report of farang muggings.

What happened in Phuket is particularly worrisome considering it was in broad daylight and these guys stabbed to kill! It could have been any farang, just a roll of the dice. Phuket is overtaking pattaya as the number 1 crime hot spot, glad I dont live there

[monty1412]

Phuket is evolving into a cesspool of crime and violence. Sort of sad, as it really is a beautiful island. Think crimes like this one are a natural outgrowth of the lack of any real policing that has the goal of stopping crime. The mafia is in full control of the island, and everyone knows it. These punks must see the stories of the tuk tuk guys beating up tourists, and figured that they would have a try themselves.....

I suppose these crimes will come to an end when embassies start issuing travel warnings for Phuket, and tourism comes to a standstill. THEN you will see some real crackdowns by the police.

Unfortunately I think you are 100% correct. I say this as its just a shame that the Thai authorities don't take a realistic view and say " hey we need to clean up the streets, tuk tuk's, jet skis , beach touts etc etc.

I experienced the infamous tuk tuk drivers the other night.. was riding through patong on way back to kata and pulled in off main road to get drink from 7/11. next thing you know Tuk Tuk driver honking his horn as it seems id parked in his place. Told him 2 seconds.. he gets out and wanders right up to me with look of malice.. he was nowhere near my size but I knew from the look that if I retaliated to his aggressive front i would have had a pack of tuk tuk drivers descend on me.... disgression was best part of valor so moved on but was left in no doubt that these guys are thugs at best and that phuket authorities need to get with the program and clean out the streets..

Personally if God ever decided to turn another city to stone i would lay bets Patong is high on his list.

[TinoThailand]

Thailand is dangerous with many bad characters. The streets are not safe after midnight. Too many "Farang hunters" on the prowl, both good characters and bad characters.

Hmmm I do not agree, the traffic is dangerous on a high level. The robbing, attacking and stealing is not on a very high level in Thailand. Pattaya, Phuket, BKK are not random Thai places. Just more sick society like and these are normal reactions in screwed up area's where poor get more poor.

Sad but nothing more then a boring fact

[Payboy]

I wonder if their fathers are tuk tuk or taxi drivers?

two youths aged 13 and 14

They could be tuk tuk drivers themselves.

[CharlieH]

Imagine the out cry and response if these young thugs picked on the wrong one and they ended up in intensive care.

There have always been two standards for Thai and Ferang and some things will never change, and as long as pockets get lined they never will.

Edited December 7, 2011 by CharlieH

[laurentbkk]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

Don't judge all of Thailand by what happens in Phuket...and to be fair, don't judge all of phuket from the actions of a few...although it does seem more and more that the thugs are multiplying and are in firm control of phuket and have no fear of the local govt or law. When the kids see the taxi mafia do as they dam_n well please with zero repercussions year after year, story after story it likely emboldens them to think why not?

Phuket is a beautiful island that has made just about every wrong decision possible over the past ten years or so.....of course the tourists right now still pour in there and they think it will always continue. But today with the internet stories like this fly around the world in minutes and are picked up by all sorts of travel sites that potential tourist may well visit...eventually it will take it's toll and the quality and quantitity of toursist will decline. Frankly i feel safer in Pattaya than in Phuket and for anyone who has ever lived in Pattaya you know that it isn't exactly the home of the upper crust.

PHUKET WAS a beautiful island ......

[tigermonkey]

I wonder if their fathers are tuk tuk or taxi drivers?

Quite possible, but it's equally possible that their fathers are jet ski 'entrpreneurs', or they could even be chidren of police officers. Would that make them BiBettes?

[TinoThailand]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

Bangkok, considering the population of 11 million there is hardly ever a report of farang muggings.

What happened in Phuket is particularly worrisome considering it was in broad daylight and these guys stabbed to kill! It could have been any farang, just a roll of the dice. Phuket is overtaking pattaya as the number 1 crime hot spot, glad I dont live there

I agree, I think they wanted to fight/attack as much or even more then find the money. Picture you see fat drinking screaming people from outside building houses and choose one of there woman (without any interest for culture and other things sometimes ).

Many of us (farang) are just behaving "ok" becaue we can buy a easy live here but the evil is in us too and maybe more then the Thai. Phuket is indeed a down the hill project.

[tragickingdom]

Contrary to most comments here, I sincerely believe that it is in the police best interest to investigate these gang robberies. I am very confident that they will be p[punished. Problem is that there is no possibility to send their parents to jail. They might deserve the punishment as much as these boys.

[richard_smith237]

Thailand is dangerous with many bad characters. The streets are not safe after midnight. Too many bad characters out on the prowl "Farang Hunting".

Which is even more worrying because this and the other listed attacks happened before these boys bedtime...

[Stjohnm]

It's the tourist's fault, if he hadn't have been there it never would have happened.

True, I thought we had it bad back in the UK with all the NED's & Chavs and their related knife gangs

[dean999]

I wonder if their fathers are tuk tuk or taxi drivers?

two youths aged 13 and 14

They could be tuk tuk drivers themselves.

Maybe it was a test to see if they have what it takes to be tuk tuk drivers.

[SAffer]

Contrary to most comments here, I sincerely believe that it is in the police best interest to investigate these gang robberies. I am very confident that they will be p[punished. Problem is that there is no possibility to send their parents to jail. They might deserve the punishment as much as these boys.

I agree... Police have more to gain from tourists than from small-time hoodlums.

It is in Phuket's best interest to protect foreigners and I believe they generally act accordingly.

Thais may not really like Farang, I am the first to feel/admit it... but I do feel safer here than in most European countries I have visited.

[PattayaPhom]

WOW, and they did all this for 200THB to buy snacks !, and also during the day, is anywhere safe in Thailand now !

Don't judge all of Thailand by what happens in Phuket...and to be fair, don't judge all of phuket from the actions of a few...although it does seem more and more that the thugs are multiplying and are in firm control of phuket and have no fear of the local govt or law. When the kids see the taxi mafia do as they dam_n well please with zero repercussions year after year, story after story it likely emboldens them to think why not?

Phuket is a beautiful island that has made just about every wrong decision possible over the past ten years or so.....of course the tourists right now still pour in there and they think it will always continue. But today with the internet stories like this fly around the world in minutes and are picked up by all sorts of travel sites that potential tourist may well visit...eventually it will take it's toll and the quality and quantitity of toursist will decline. Frankly i feel safer in Pattaya than in Phuket and for anyone who has ever lived in Pattaya you know that it isn't exactly the home of the upper crust.

I know a number of people that have had business in Phuket for at least seven years and they are upping sticks and moving to Pattaya...the three reasons, expensive, less and less tourists every year and crime issues......Pattaya on the other hand has reversed, more tourists, less crime..expense no increase...Something needs to be done soon!!!