Vietnamese Pick-Pocket Gang Arrested At Bangkok Lady Gaga Concert

[webfact]

Vietnamese Pick-pocket Gang Arrested at BKK Lady Gaga Concert

Bangkok police arrested a Vietnamese pick-pocket gang at the recent Lady Gaga concert on May 25 in Bangkok. The Vietnamese gang flew in from Saigon on May 24 and planned fly back to Vietnam on May 26, 2012 but they were arrested. The gang members were charged with theft and they will be investigated and prosecuted according to the law.

May 25, 2012 [PDN] Pol. Col. Uthai Kawindechathorn, Superintendent, Pol. Lt. Col. Chairat, Inspector, reported that they had arrested Mrs. Ngean Ti Jang Dai age 57, Mrs. Yean Ti Tung age 36 and Mr. Lae Wan Hong age 23.

All the suspects are Vietnamese nationals who had arrived in Bangkok to pick-pocket the people who came to see the Lady Gaga concert at Ratchamangkala Sport Stadium on may 25, 2012.

The gang in possession of three airline tickets from Saigon-Suvarnnabhumi and three airline tickets to go back to Vietnam: Suvarnnabhumi-Saigon, one shirt, one cap, one handbag, one concert ticket price 4,500 THB, one concert ticket price 6,300 THB and three mobile phones.

Pol. Col. Uthai said that, the detectives inspected the concert entrance during the afternoon and found 10-15 suspicious looking people standing in front of the gates, watching, studying the arriving concertgoers.

The police saw the group of Vietnamese following people with handbags who were buying souvenirs. These were the victims targeted by the pick-pockets.

The police could only arrest three of the suspects the rest escaped.

Full story: http://www.pattayada...y-gaga-concert/

-- Pattaya Daily News 2012-05-28

[webfact]

Vietnamese pickpockets pinched at Lady Gaga show

By Coconuts Bangkok

Pickpockets took advantage of the crowds at the Lady Gaga show at Rajamangala. Photo: Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Five Vietnamese pickpockets who preyed on concertgoers at the Lady Gaga show at Rajamangala Stadium on Friday were arrested this weekend.

Police found 32 mobile phones, several cameras, and foreign money worth THB500,000 in the possession of 43-year-old Mr. Ho Van Than, 22-year-old Ghi Kim Anit, 29-year-old Ms. Tran Thi Thu Phuong, 41-year-old Cao The Hoang, and 37-year-old Mrs. Tran Thi Minh Nguyen. Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Winai Thongsong told the press that three of the gang were arrested at Rajamangala and the last two were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport while trying to catch a flight back to Vietnam.

Full story: http://www.coconutsb...lady-gaga-show/

-- COCONUTSBangkok 2012-05-28

[Payboy]

Police guy on the right trying to get a legover?

[sjjmmi]

Police guy on the right trying to get a legover?

[Jingthing]

Skills pay bills ...

[gand]

There are pickpockets at the discos too.

[Sayonarax]

A good punishment would be to make the pricks walk home.

[Thai at Heart]

Pattaya daily really needs some better journalists.

Did these pick pockets actually do anything more than be in possession of some phones and a couple of tickets, and flying on an aeroplane together. Note to journalist, when writing a stroy about an arrest, it is useful to actually catalogue some of the ACTUAL offences.

[Payboy]

A good punishment would be to make the pricks walk home.

Who's going to do all the policework then?

[gk10002000]

I am sure there is some camera surveillance footage available somewhere, maybe even some undercover cops in the crowd. People (criminals) sometimes forget that their targets are being watched by others also. 32 cell phones and 500,000 baht sure seems worth investigating though. If you have any familiarity with surveillance work such as at concerts, public places, casinos etc, it is not too hard to see people that stand out because they are NOT watching the events or the games. Try it next time you are at some public gathering.

[Beetlejuice]

I’ve noticed that most of the criminals in Thailand seem to be foreigners.

Does this mean that all the Thai criminals are working abroad? Is there some sort of International criminal exchange scheme in operation somewhere? Perhaps it`s run by the BOI?

[Jingthing]

I must say, this crew really LOOKS like a gang of Vietnamese pickpockets. Are they real or did they come from central casting?

[redroo]

these are more likely the drop off crew .

the pic pocket person steels the stuff then hands it quickly to the next person,

so that when pulled up for it he has nothing on him.

[boggle]

No work permits. Taking Thai jobs. Dunno whats the world comeing to?

[DP25]

I’ve noticed that most of the criminals in Thailand seem to be foreigners.

Does this mean that all the Thai criminals are working abroad? Is there some sort of International criminal exchange scheme in operation somewhere? Perhaps it`s run by the BOI?

Thai criminals seem more likely to gravitate towards scams. Tuk tuk, sick buffalo, and gem shop scams on the lower end up to multi billion dollar tax scams on the upper. Running around in the heat picking pockets is just so tiring when you could relax and wait for some dumb tourist to hand the cash over with a smile.

[Misterwhisper]

I would've been more amused if the headline had read "Vietnamese Gang of Fake Rolex Sellers Arrested at Lady Gaga Concert".

[pakorn7]

Most of the criminals operating in Thailand are not even Thais.

[looping]

These police do a really good job of looking like criminals, must have special training

[how241]

Good police work.

[Cardiff1963]

Most of the criminals operating in Thailand are not even Thais.

Obviously this man is some kind of genius

[navara]

Perhaps they found my wallet too? Black shabby one, lot's of cards and no money.

[JimmyTheMook]

Wonder how they'd get that much swag back into Vietnam thru the airport.

Bit much for keystering.

[garyk]

I went to Vietnam once! Only once. Never had a pick pocket but tried to scam me every other way. Overcharged, no change? Got robbed by the staff in a upscale hotel. I had to argue every transaction. It was just a headache. It will be a long time before I return for sure.

Vietnam can suck a big one as far as I am concerned.

[Colabamumbai]

No mention if they got the "fake Rolex"....

[anterian]

If they had not been Vietnamese they would never have made the news.

[edko]

I went to Vietnam once! Only once. Never had a pick pocket but tried to scam me every other way. Overcharged, no change? Got robbed by the staff in a upscale hotel. I had to argue every transaction. It was just a headache. It will be a long time before I return for sure.

Vietnam can suck a big one as far as I am concerned.

I went there last October for only 8 days and my experience was similar.

My Vietnamese friend cautioned me to not let anything dear to me out of sight. Three days after arriving at HCMC, traveled by bus to Mui Ne and if you can believe it, had 2 mangos I had purchased at a previous stop lifted from me when I left them on a table at another rest stop while relieving myself and gone for only a couple of minutes. It was obviously another passenger on the bus as we were the only people who were at the stop.

It was just one of many negatives in dealing with Vietnamese people. Vietnam has beautiful scenery, however, the general poverty and dishonesty of so many of the populace make it a place I will not return to. People are not very friendly, seldom helpful, and I was told by my friend of many scams the taxi drivers will pull and sure enough, my final night in HCMC I got scammed by a taxi driver into paying double for what was a large bill to begin with.

My intent was to investigate Nha Trang after reading an article on Yahoo that proclaimed it to be the new lowest cost destination for retirees who want to live on the cheap. I only purchased a one way ticket to in case I wanted to spend some time there, but 8 days was enough and I could not wait to return to Thailand...bottom line is that I would not live there if I was being paid to do so. If Vietnam really wants to reinvent itself as a world class destination for tourists they will need to have a massive education program for the general public.

[radiochaser]

I’ve noticed that most of the criminals in Thailand seem to be foreigners.

Does this mean that all the Thai criminals are working abroad? Is there some sort of International criminal exchange scheme in operation somewhere? Perhaps it`s run by the BOI?

Thai criminals seem more likely to gravitate towards scams. Tuk tuk, sick buffalo, and gem shop scams on the lower end up to multi billion dollar tax scams on the upper. Running around in the heat picking pockets is just so tiring when you could relax and wait for some dumb tourist to hand the cash over with a smile.

There are plenty of Thai pick-pockets in Thailand. I have found piles of wallets outside the main Bangkok train stations.

I had a video camera running one time that caught a guy picking the pocket of three men. I did not know it had happened until I saw video afterwards. I was sitting outside a 7-11 having a snack and cola with the camera running (and set where it wouldn't be stolen). I think the pick-pocket did not see the camera when it happened.

[khaowong1]

I’ve noticed that most of the criminals in Thailand seem to be foreigners.

Does this mean that all the Thai criminals are working abroad? Is there some sort of International criminal exchange scheme in operation somewhere? Perhaps it`s run by the BOI?

Thai criminals seem more likely to gravitate towards scams. Tuk tuk, sick buffalo, and gem shop scams on the lower end up to multi billion dollar tax scams on the upper. Running around in the heat picking pockets is just so tiring when you could relax and wait for some dumb tourist to hand the cash over with a smile.

There are plenty of Thai pick-pockets in Thailand. I have found piles of wallets outside the main Bangkok train stations.

I had a video camera running one time that caught a guy picking the pocket of three men. I did not know it had happened until I saw video afterwards. I was sitting outside a 7-11 having a snack and cola with the camera running (and set where it wouldn't be stolen). I think the pick-pocket did not see the camera when it happened.

So, the consensus is, there were no Thai pick pockets at the Lady Gaga concert.. only foreign pick pockets. Wow.. or maybe the Thai pick pocketers were too good to get caught or maybe the Thai pick pocketers knew how to grease the right palms or maybe.. etc. etc.

Amazing Thailand.

[Bluespunk]

The Thai pickpocket gangs were going to attend but after lady gaga's rolex comment they boycotted the conference. Even thieves can be patriotic.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Bluespunk

[IsaanUSA]

I went to Vietnam once! Only once. Never had a pick pocket but tried to scam me every other way. Overcharged, no change? Got robbed by the staff in a upscale hotel. I had to argue every transaction. It was just a headache. It will be a long time before I return for sure.

Vietnam can suck a big one as far as I am concerned.

100% agree, however I really like Vietnam. I do not recommend Vietnam to first time visitors to Asia for this reason alone. Nickle and dimed to death.