I posted this as a reply on car wash samui but then thought it may be helpful as a general post as more people will read it.

May I please offer words of advice.

I recently put my car in for washing at one of these places and the guys in there recognised me and also knew where I lived. I left my car for many hours and on my return there were no keys. Soon a man came back on a motorbike and handed over the keys which was very odd to say the least. Where did he go with my car keys and why?

My brain then went into overdrive, as it often does, and I thought that they iether had gone to my house with the keys or they had copied them ready for a nightime visit later on!

On returning home all was OK as I have a housekeeper who had been there all day! Also my many dogs were in place as usual!

My point - Be careful when handing over your key bunch to these operators, which often has your car key, house key, garage key etc etc etc. They can easily work out where you live from stuff like bills and letters in your car and then visit at leisure.

Just advice, not meaning to cause offence to any legitimate service providers but it could be the case. All it takes is one bad apple needing some quick money!

I now have new locks on my house and only ever hand over my car key after removing it from the ring!

Hope this is taken in the right way as just some helpful advice!

Separate rings for separate keys is a good advice.

Something you also can do is to have your mobile phone number on a label with your key chain, so you can be joined in case you forget them somewhere.

Good advice, in both posts.

Does anyone know where you can get the little metal tags

that they stamp with your phone number on?

I only ever give them my car key. Why would anyone give them their key-ring with all their keys? That's asking for trouble...

I only ever give them my car key. Why would anyone give them their key-ring with all their keys? That's asking for trouble...

nail. head.

Separate rings for separate keys is a good advice.

Something you also can do is to have your mobile phone number on a label with your key chain, so you can be joined in case you forget them somewhere.

I wouldn't do this. They copy your keys, then they stick an advert up in Tesco Lotus for an iphone at a really cheap price with your phone number on...

So people start calling you about the iphone... In the end you drive down to lotus to take the advert down. All they time they've been watching and follow you home...

Now they know where you live and they rob you a couple of weeks later...

They could also be copying your car key to steal the car at a later date

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or kidnap your dog or wife.

or maybe sleep in your house and steal the waterpump or or or...

Separate rings for separate keys is a good advice.

Something you also can do is to have your mobile phone number on a label with your key chain, so you can be joined in case you forget them somewhere.

I wouldn't do this. They copy your keys, then they stick an advert up in Tesco Lotus for an iphone at a really cheap price with your phone number on...

So people start calling you about the iphone... In the end you drive down to lotus to take the advert down. All they time they've been watching and follow you home...

Now they know where you live and they rob you a couple of weeks later...

Are you a scouser?

you should tell the owner as the owner is least likely to be behinde it. This is if they were to do something bad with your keys plus i am not saying for sure that if there was something going on that the owner would or would not be involved vut from my point of view the owner probably has enough to deal with with washing cars and probably does not have time to burgle houses but however staff that may possibly be on a low wage and shall get paid the same in day in and day out might have more of a motive.

so i suggest that you let the boss know as you might not be the first to complain which shall leave the boss in an orquad position. You dont have to be abusive or even acuse anyone just tell him your story. this way if you house does get robbed then the owner shall probably worry. Even if it really wasn;t his staff.

i suggest you ask him why a thai man took your car keys on his motor bike. i reckon the owner may give an excuse but tell him that you are worried because there have been many brake ins on the island and his staff are not really helping themselves but doing this. so suggest that he tells his staff to take more care in the future.

by doing this i reckon if they were going to rob your house then they might pick another target as the last thing these peope want is for you to already know their faces before they even try the stunt.

it is up to you but if you want to take it further you can tell them that you hope you do not get robbed as you have already mafde a police report about this incodent so it is already on file.

you can make a report about a thai man taking your keys and that you are worried. that is all you have to write.

They could also be copying your car key to steal the car at a later date

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could be or it could be some dumb worker put the key in his pocket and forgot about it and went to lunch. there again it is suspicous. what is worse they may even nick something out of your car. annoying really then the other alteernive is to wait 3 hours to wash your car or wash it yourself. best thing to do is to follow the man who gave the key back so you know where he lives. if you get robbed you can go straight round his house to re collect your loot )

And they could give your keys back just thinking why those farangs have so many keys on their car key rings

I can't say I would ever hand over a whole bunch of keys to a stranger. Just the relevant key/s needed to complete their task.

Are you guys all paranoid or what?

Perhaps it is because you live in the big city farang ghettos.

Out here in rural Thailand you can leave your car with the engine running, go shopping in severel places and there are no problems.

I am SO glad I live out here.