More foreigners arriving on Phuket to commit crime, police say

[Lite Beer]

More foreigners arriving on Phuket to commit crime, police say
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: There is an increasing number of foreigners arriving in Phuket posing as tourists but with the intention to commit crimes on the island, says Phuket’s deputy police commander, Pol Col Peerayuth Garajedi.


Gang leader Colombian Arturo Marin, kneeling, and Mexican Yesid Alexander, in the foreground, prepare to show how they cracked the Patong ATM.

Col Peerayuth was speaking at a meeting on Friday afternoon (December 20) to brief banks and gold shops on how they can beef up their security.

Police decided to call the meeting following the two ATM robberies at the beginning of December, one at Boat Lagoon and the other in Patong, along with gold shop robberies over the past year.

These two businesses, they reasoned, are more likely than most to be targeted by criminals because they deal in cash (in the case of banks) and in easily sold goods (in the case of gold shops).

Col Peerayuth said that police were coming across an increasing number of cases of foreigners arriving in Phuket posing as tourists but with plans to commit crimes.

This was true of both ATM robberies, one carried out by two Vietnamese and the other by two Colombians and a Mexican.

Col Peerayuth presided over the meeting at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters, which drew representatives of gold shops, banks, and security truck companies.

Pol Col Peerayuth said ATM machines should not be installed in quiet, dark areas, and any bushes or tress surrounding them should be cut back.

Banks should install ATM machines that are refilled from the front, not the back, because many times criminals have got into machines by breaking into the small room at the back of the machine, where they are hidden from view while they break into the ATM.

Banks should also fit much stronger locks than they do at present; many ATMs are protected only with padlocks, which are easily disposed of by thieves.

As for gold shops, the police recommended that they install grilles on display cabinets and remotely-controlled door locks. They should also install alarm sirens.

Both banks and gold shops should have high quality CCTV cameras switched on all the time, and which are checked regularly to ensure they are working properly.

Col Peerayuth urged all banks to employ security guards – some banks still don’t have them.

In November last year, after he was caught, Kasikornbank robber Anusit “Aow” Keawmukda said he targeted a Kasikornbank branch in Thepkrassattri because it had no security guard.

Police said banks and gold shops should also be stricter in not allowing people to enter while wearing jackets or motorbike helmets.

The man who robbed the CP Goldmaster shop at Tesco-Lotus on the bypass in April this year wore a motorbike helmet with a medical mask to hide his face. He used the pistol to shoot and kill a customer who tried to talk him out of the robbery.

Bank staff should also be more observant; if someone sits in a bank for a long time without transacting any business, it could be because they are waiting for a customer to withdraw a large amount of money before following them and robbing them.

Those at the meeting said they had found the information useful and helpful, and said they would take the ideas back to their companies.

About 40 companies were invited to the meeting, but only half that number attended.

Col Peerayuth decided to look on the bright side. “Let’s think positively. [Those who did not attend] must have gotten important business to do.

“But all these operators need to take action to protect themselves. The police can offer support, but we have to work together.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/more-foreigners-arriving-on-phuket-to-commit-crime-police-say-43641.php

-- Phuket News 2013-12-24

[Mosha]

The police won't like the competition.

[Old Croc]

They're getting some real anti-foreigner mileage out of a couple of ATM robberies.

[Nemesis7]

Whats with Phuket and all these everyday trouble with foreigners.?!?

[Briggsy]

My advice remains constant. Don't go to Phuket.

[nedkellylives]

Most major scams and crimes here are run and done by Foreigners

Edited December 24, 2013 by nedkellylives

[angsta]

Do they have work permits to commit these crimes?

[Johnnie99]

Lots of competition ... say no more

[Emdog]

Talk about hauling coal to New Castle. Seems market is already highly saturated with natives in that profession.

[jaiyen]

Maybe the Police could get off their bums and patrol the areas and show their presence. This is a proven method of policing. But the Thai police way seems to be let the crime happen , then they will know exactly where to go. Saves all that time patrolling the streets in hot weather !

[kkup]

My advice remains constant. Don't go to Phuket.

+1 Pattaya

[captspectre]

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

[Costas2008]

These are quality tourists that help Thailand by generating more cash to boost the economy.

TAT should thank them and invite more in.

[SOTIRIOS]

.funny...suddenly the police are there to protect the territory of the Thai criminals.....then again, maybe that's how it's always been...just more competition..

[lostmebike]

'Quality tourists for a quality island'

[connda]

In Phuket: Foreigner bad. Driver tuktuk good. People rent ski jet good. People police good. Foreigner bad. Go home people farang bad.

Crikey! Boycott the freaking place for crying out loud! It's the armpit of Thailand.

[connda]

Mexican? Omg! They're starting to come over here to do the work that Thais are no longer willing to do for 200 baht a day. I know. G. 'Dubya' Bush told me so.

/sarc off

Edited December 24, 2013 by connda

[somchaismith]

It's not a bad thing because at least the tuk tuk, bus and Taxi drivers will now be understandable..

[inzman]

The Thais don't like competition!

[Costas2008]

Benroon, on 24 Dec 2013 - 18:02, said:

nedkellylives, on 24 Dec 2013 - 16:16, said:

Most major scams and crimes here are run and done by Foreigners

Which is no different to the UK and about to get worse !

Ahhhhhhh......bloody foreigners....the cause of all evil.....what do they want in a country populated by angels?

[hansgruber]

Aren't all foreigners hiring a bar girl for sex breaking the law?

[razer]

When any criminal justice system is for sale it is always a magnet for crime. There is an old saying about getting your own house in order.

[BKKdreaming]

foreign bad guys must not compete with local bad guys ,

but if you think of a new crime just give us our cut !

[GeorgeO]

My advice remains constant. Don't go to Phuket.

As does mine...! I still fail to understand how so many people continue to go there despite the treatment dished out by the locals and the disdain poured on them by the likes of the Mayor and the Dep Pol Chief...!!

If they truly believe that foreigners are causing all the trouble, then they should stop issuing any tourist visas and prohibit tourist visits to Phuket, then the problems will disappear, surely...?!

[eezergood]

Aren't all foreigners hiring a bar girl for sex breaking the law?

as too are the girls & the bar owners?

[eezergood]

Could you imagine the backlash if, for example, a Police commander from Sydney came out & said all Thai ladies are coming to Kings cross to work as hookers!

[NamKangMan]

Aren't all foreigners hiring a bar girl for sex breaking the law?

as too are the girls & the bar owners?

As to are the police and politicians that take "tea money" and allow it to happen.

[IrishIvan]

No where it states that foreigners are committing all the crimes in phuket. But anywhere you have high tourist numbers you are going to have perpetrators from other countries. A lot of people think That police ain't so smart. I don't know how they do it but whenever a crime is reported in the papers they generally catch the guilty parties.

[Colabamumbai]

They have just migrated from Pattaya to Phuket. Most of the Thais working in Pattaya and Phuket are not from there, they have all migrated there. Although I am not an American I think it is kind of like Florida, the people who work there are not from there.