Honda bikes, Toyota sedans most stolen in Bangkok

[webfact]

Honda bikes, Toyota sedans most stolen in Bangkok
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Each year, Bangkok sees approximately 400 cars and 2,000 motorcycles stolen, with Honda's Wave motorcycles and Toyota's Altis and Vios sedans being the ones most stolen, Metropolitan Police Bureau's Car and Motorcycle Theft Suppression Centre said yesterday.

Other motorcycles most targeted were Honda Click, Honda Scoopy I, Yamaha Fino, Yamaha Mio, Kawasaki KL, Kawasaki KSR and Suzuki Smash, while the vehicles most targeted were Toyota Fortuner SUV, Toyota Hilux Vigo and Isuzu pick-up trucks.

Vehicles were mostly stolen between 6pm and midnight in isolated alleyways, parks, parking lots and residential areas. Most vehicle thefts took place in areas under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Police Divisions 5 and 2, which are on the borders of neighbouring provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.

From April last year until now, police have only made arrests in relation to 298 of the 2,952 vehicle thefts reported.


-- The Nation 2014-04-24

[draftvader]

Could also read "The most widely sold vehicles...."

If you went out counted the next 2,952 vehicles that passed you on an average Bangkok soi your count would reflect this article.

[ezzra]

400 cars and 2,000 motorcycles stolen...

IMHO, it's a negligible and tolerated number of stolen vehicles in a city of millions

of motorbikes and cars...

[keemapoot]

It seems as if it's the same as in large vehicle markets like the US, most thefts are of the most popular high sales volume models, because they are chopped up and used for parts to enter back into the aftermarket. It's a huge business.

That's why it's a good idea to drive an Alfa Romeo in Thailand.

[chooka]

It seems as if it's the same as in large vehicle markets like the US, most thefts are of the most popular high sales volume models, because they are chopped up and used for parts to enter back into the aftermarket. It's a huge business.

That's why it's a good idea to drive an Alfa Romeo in Thailand.

It would still be cheaper to replace your vios a dozen times than by one Alfa in Thailand.

[JeremyBowskill]

Best to only buy vehicles made in China, no one in their right mind would steal them. You could buy a lifan car and bike and be safe as houses. Downside is, they are utter cr@p and will be in the garage more often than you actually use them. You can't have it all though.

[zaZa9]

Credit where its due - Thailands culture or systems or Both conspire to make the really annoying crime of vehicle theft almost non existent.

[Johnnie99]

It seems as if it's the same as in large vehicle markets like the US, most thefts are of the most popular high sales volume models, because they are chopped up and used for parts to enter back into the aftermarket. It's a huge business.

That's why it's a good idea to drive an Alfa Romeo in Thailand.

First, find an Alfa which is actually drivable ...

[JohnThailandJohn]

400 cars and 2,000 motorcycles stolen...

IMHO, it's a negligible and tolerated number of stolen vehicles in a city of millions

of motorbikes and cars...

Seems extremely low given the lack of enforcement of random vehicle checks here. In the US some cops have cameras on their cars that can scan any license plate in view and run it automatically while every stop by the cops includes running the vehicle through the computer but that didn't stop there from being more that 50,000 vehicles stolen in 2012 in the LA area and LA didn't even rank in the top 20 cities for stolen vehicles in the US. So, either the 400 / 2,000 number is off or just a heck of a lot less car thieves here.

Edit: But they do seem to check motorcycle paperwork a lot at check points here.

Edited April 24, 2014 by metisdead

[Loles]

So are 400 cars and 2000 motorbikes stolen / year in Bkk?

I guess many countries in West would be very happy with these details if we compute in the large Bkk population parameter also.

[dknslowly]

Virtually useless figures unless compared to the number of registered vehicles for the make/model in question. If you sell 100 Toyota and 10 Ford, you can't be surprised if you have 10 Toyota stolen and 1 Ford. Both get stolen 10%. What would be scary if 5 Toyota and 5 Ford. One is 5% and the other 50% - you get the drift... The quality of reporting is really getting quite good nowadays.

[timmyp]

Where are police divisions 2 and 5?

Yes, of course I read that they are "on the borders of neighbouring provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan." Is there a map for the jurisdictions? Just curious... I wonder how much having a chain lock on the bikes help. I have a big fat lock, but I have never used it...

[solstan]

The figure seems a bot low, how big is that district that the Metropolitan police refer to?

There is a well established trade road to Laos is what they told me when someone in the small town at home left with a couple partly paid for vehicles ... and my guess is that someone got her to do it for a small and now gone profit. She owes at least 1-200 000 Baht and that will not be easy to recover ...

One of the local motorbike shops said that some people sold their new bike they signed up for after maybe paying 1800 Baht once or twice and then reported it stolen but as they do not have any insurance they will have to settle it in court or pay in full ... or go to jail.

So, only 2000 in Bangkok seems a bit low .. as "the market" for used o brand new bikes seems to be big.

BTW, the paperwork the check roadside is usually that you have paid basic insurance and tax. If not you will not get the "sticker" and without that you will have to pay a fine or bribe your way out of it ... it can take a couple of weeks to get the actual thing as he green book will have to visit raffic department and get stamped and until then you need proof that you paid for it. If you havent paid for the bike the paper is at the office of the company and they will have to do the paper run for you.

[draftvader]

It seems as if it's the same as in large vehicle markets like the US, most thefts are of the most popular high sales volume models, because they are chopped up and used for parts to enter back into the aftermarket. It's a huge business.

That's why it's a good idea to drive an Alfa Romeo in Thailand.

First, find an Alfa which is actually drivable ...

An Alfa.....that needs a special kind of mechanic (commonly driving it!)

[lee b]

Does this mean nobody likes my Yamaha Fino?? Oh well....Made me a bit sad. Those stats really dont seem that bad to me

[Tchooptip]

It is next to nothing in regard of the link below (10years old but can compare)

in US only more one million a year, UK over 300.000, Thailand a little more 3.000.

[Tchooptip]

It is next to nothing in regard of the link below (10years old but can compare)

in US only more one million a year, UK over 300.000, Thailand a little more 3.000.

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Crime/Car-thefts

[bigbamboo]

Does this mean nobody likes my Yamaha Fino?? Oh well....Made me a bit sad. Those stats really dont seem that bad to me

Girls and gays do.

[thailandbeachisland]

Benz and BMW are safe <3

[thrilled]

That's A low number considering the population.It's A good chance that if you leave your vehicle running and go into A 7-11,good chances it'll still be there.Try doing it in downtown Chicago and Detroit.