Banks in Thailand to up security in wake of robberies

[webfact]

ROBBERY
Banks to up security in wake of robberies
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police has held a meeting with 16 banks and six security-truck firms to discuss the recent spate of bank, gold-shop and convenience-store robberies, deputy police spokesman Thana Chuwong said yesterday.

Bank executives at the meeting agreed to implement a number of the security measures put forward, including higher counters - making it more difficult for criminals to reach bank employees.

They also agreed to increase the number of security cameras overlooking parking lots and angled to capture the faces of customers.

Bank entrances will also have two doors in order to slow down escaping robbers, Thana said.

Another deputy spokesman, Anucha Romyanant, reported that 30 bank and 156 convenience-store robberies had occurred this year. Arrests and arrest warrants had also risen by 70 per cent, he added.

In addition, 20 gold-shop robberies had been carried out this year compared with 49 cases last year. Police had so far made arrests in 16 cases connected with the robberies, he said.

Anucha praised gold-shop owners for their cooperation in increasing the number of grille and alarm installations.

He urged people to report suspicious behaviour to the 191 or 1599 police 24-hour hotlines.


-- The Nation 2013-09-27

[Ianatlarge]

Umm, I just have this vision of a spaced out, yabba consuming, teenager, with a firearm, half asleep, in a chair, inside the bank.

[noitom]

Thailand security - yes, spaced out.

[jackr]

How about measures to stop the banks robbing customers?

[Carl64]

So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies? And CCTV does not stop crime, it's only useful after the fact. Why don't they talk to some professionals before spending a truck load of money on this.

[rkidlad]

So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies? And CCTV does not stop crime, it's only useful after the fact. Why don't they talk to some professionals before spending a truck load of money on this.

Because the professionals will most likely be foreigners.

[noitom]

So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies? And CCTV does not stop crime, it's only useful after the fact. Why don't they talk to some professionals before spending a truck load of money on this.

Because the professionals will most likely be foreigners.

And Thais never seriously seek advice from foreigners. And if they get any advice they dismiss it abruptly and do the opposite.

[technologybytes]

It's actually quite amazing that there isn't more robbery in Thailand, considering that there is so much use of cash and large quantities of cash are available in banks (unlike many countries).

Some of the measures suggested are actually very sensible, like double doors that slow people down. Others, like high counters are not so sensible.

I used to work as a security consultant, and anyone in the business will tell you that it's always a trade-off between convenience and security, it's easy to secure banks and gold shops against robbers but that makes them less friendly to customers and increases costs which have to be recovered from somewhere. You have to find a balance and accept a manageable amount of risk.

[brfsa2]

Just put rotating doors with metal detectors at the banks. If big metals are detected, the door will lock and the person has to come remove metals, put on a basket, then try again.

This is how it's done in many countries.

Edited September 27, 2013 by Tywais
Removed oversized image

[jeff2258]

One big attraction in banks is that there are big sum of cash that you can actually see on some of the counters and also staff counting them. I saw many times that customer cashing millions in cash and there is no security personal around. Back in my country every bank have at least 2 security personal, one at the entrance and one behind the counter. I don't see security personal at gold shops and some of this shops are very open just like they are food stalls. When the economy is bad and many people can't find job, this will happen.

[nurgut73]

My guess is the banks and security truck representatives have been especially interested in how to secure convinience stores....

[cup-O-coffee]

I think the solution is to look into your personnel records and history at the banks, security truck firms, and any other business who hires a Thai, albeit, since you people do not have any credible databases throughout the Kingdom, and it is a known fact that no paperwork either actual or electronic can be trusted, then you really are up a creek. The magician gets you to look one way, whilst his hand is in your pocket.

Need an example of the irony of this headline? How about an article like, "Police in Thailand to up officers in wake of crime increase"

It's not the desparate Thais in dirty clothes whom I am concerned about. It is the clever and greedy ones who dress to deceive whom I look out for.

[tragickingdom]

Luckily the Eastern Europeans haven't figured out yet how the get rich quick scheme is working in Thailand. From postoffices to banks there are tens of millions of baht openly displayed just behind a counter. The security trucks sending the money can be opened by a can-opener and they are so badly organized that there doors are opening on roads and the bags with money fall out. Having said that banks should bot go to American systems either where the love of guns is displayed by guards filling an ATM and clsoing half a shopping center.

In the end robbery is of course not a real problem in Thailand. Not in gold shops which are even more vulnerable and not in banks, as long as robberies or attempted robberies are front page news it is still an exception. The wait is for idiots blowing up ATM's and endangering people in the process.

[finnomick]

Counter security in most gold shops is better than any bank I've been to. I've yet to see any bars or grills in a bank. I have accounts at two branches of SCB. In both branches, doors leading to the rear of the counter were left open because entering a code to unlock the door is obviously such a hard task. Last week I went to withdraw a fairly large sum. There was one person being dealt with at the counter so the ' enquiries ' girl called me to her desk and made the transaction. Where did the money come from ? A draw in the cupboard behind her.

Whilst visiting a friend who was laid up in the Bangkok-Pattaya hospital in Korat, I used the Ayuttaya bank in the foyer. Well, not quite a bank but two desks side-by-side. On a shelf behind the desks was in excess of one million baht in full open display. Some security, but then, robberies don't happen because T.I.T.

[shaurene]

Just put rotating doors with metal detectors at the banks. If big metals are detected, the door will lock and the person has to come remove metals, put on a basket, then try again.

This is how it's done in many countries.

That picture is a very good system do not have this type in New Zealand. When we go to a bank the door has to be opened by one of the tellers clicking a button but the door auto opens when leaving, seems bit silly that way

[Thai at Heart]

One big attraction in banks is that there are big sum of cash that you can actually see on some of the counters and also staff counting them. I saw many times that customer cashing millions in cash and there is no security personal around. Back in my country every bank have at least 2 security personal, one at the entrance and one behind the counter. I don't see security personal at gold shops and some of this shops are very open just like they are food stalls. When the economy is bad and many people can't find job, this will happen.

Maybe because the bank owners are Thai, and they understand the efficiency and bravery of Thai security guards infinitely better than we.

[lee b]

Higher counters, yeah great. What about the small people in the country who will not be able to see over them??

[beautifulthailand99]

I've often thought the Super Rich foreign exchange shops are a prime target with a stream of customers taking large bundles of cash to and fro each day. Have always seen their openess and seemingly lack of security as a tribute to Thai public civility.Sadly maybe times they are a changing.

Edited September 27, 2013 by beautifulthailand99

[A1Str8]

Good thing they have finally realized that they have no security whatsoever. The other day my friend received money via W. Union. We were in the mall and they did not keep money at the Union branch so the girl had to go upstairs to get it from the bank. It was a large sum of money. I was laughing when I saw that tiny little W. Union girl coming back with the money. No security guard, nobody accompanied her.

[overherebc]

Just put rotating doors with metal detectors at the banks. If big metals are detected, the door will lock and the person has to come remove metals, put on a basket, then try again.

This is how it's done in many countries.

That picture is a very good system do not have this type in New Zealand. When we go to a bank the door has to be opened by one of the tellers clicking a button but the door auto opens when leaving, seems bit silly that way

I've been locked in one of those in Italy when the steel toe caps in my working shoes set the system off. Very effective.

[technologybytes]

I think the solution is to look into your personnel records and history at the banks, security truck firms, and any other business who hires a Thai, albeit, since you people do not have any credible databases throughout the Kingdom, and it is a known fact that no paperwork either actual or electronic can be trusted, then you really are up a creek.

Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about !

[vijer]

Thailand security - yes, spaced out.

For 300 baht a day you can't expect much.

[MegaRanter]

I've often thought the Super Rich foreign exchange shops are a prime target with a stream of customers taking large bundles of cash to and fro each day. Have always seen their openess and seemingly lack of security as a tribute to Thai public civility.Sadly maybe times they are a changing.

Superrich has several layers of security in and around the shop.all the entrances and junctions leading to the shop all have people with concealed side arms.

If you frequent the area, you will always notice young men in bulging jackets on Honda phantom, coming in or leaving the place to supply cash to customers.

Remember it's not only superrich is in the area, several others exist with a travel agency as front. They will band together should the need arise.

They will deliver at your office or hotel or home, if they know you. Some of my customer come with TC,which is even better than cash rates, they will accept them from me as long as I put my company stamp on the back of every one of them. They know where to find me.

[darrendsd]

So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies? And CCTV does not stop crime, it's only useful after the fact. Why don't they talk to some professionals before spending a truck load of money on this.

Because the professionals will most likely be foreigners.

And Thais never seriously seek advice from foreigners. And if they get any advice they dismiss it abruptly and do the opposite.

I don't see anywhere in the article where it says they will or won't be seeking advice from foreigners over these measures so what exactly is your point?

Can any story on here be discussed without the usual Thai bashing?

[Suradit69]

So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies? And CCTV does not stop crime, it's only useful after the fact. Why don't they talk to some professionals before spending a truck load of money on this.

"So by increasing the height of the counters, and putting an extra door on the bank entrance will reduce bank robberies?"

Well according to Thai Visa specialists in clear thinking, we need to raise the height of railings on all balconies in Thailand to prevent farang (who are apparently unfamiliar with such exotic appurtenances) from falling off them, so why not thwart robbers using the same logic? Or are you suggesting that bank robbers are more crafty than your typical farang balcony virgin?

And actually, the article stated: "Bank entrances will also have two doors in order to slow down escaping robbers."

It seemed more aimed at increasing the likelihood they'd be caught, not reduce their frequency, although I suppose the former would contribute to the latter.

[EricBerg]

Electric fences will boost security too. Wasn't there a certain lady recently that proved that?

[yooper2001]

Did The banks ever hear of exploding money packs that covers the money in a red dye that makes it useless as well as covering the robbers. Or having some of the bills with a tracking chip.

This will not prevent a robbery but it will certainly help bring them to justice

[smoochy]

I hope BKK doesn't turn into Manila where there is a shotgun-toting security officer in front of every business in the city.

[beautifulthailand99]

I've often thought the Super Rich foreign exchange shops are a prime target with a stream of customers taking large bundles of cash to and fro each day. Have always seen their openess and seemingly lack of security as a tribute to Thai public civility.Sadly maybe times they are a changing.

Superrich has several layers of security in and around the shop.all the entrances and junctions leading to the shop all have people with concealed side arms.

If you frequent the area, you will always notice young men in bulging jackets on Honda phantom, coming in or leaving the place to supply cash to customers.

Remember it's not only superrich is in the area, several others exist with a travel agency as front. They will band together should the need arise.

They will deliver at your office or hotel or home, if they know you. Some of my customer come with TC,which is even better than cash rates, they will accept them from me as long as I put my company stamp on the back of every one of them. They know where to find me.

Good to know - we always use it as soon as we arrive and I'm always a bit anxious before we bank the loot !

[stockholm1995]

I've often thought the Super Rich foreign exchange shops are a prime target with a stream of customers taking large bundles of cash to and fro each day. Have always seen their openess and seemingly lack of security as a tribute to Thai public civility.Sadly maybe times they are a changing.

They always have 3-4 armed security guards but customers don´t see them. They are outside the shop and inside.