Robbery and Attempted Rape of Tourist Near Khaosan Road

By Khaosod Eng.

BANGKOK — A 19-year-old Thai man has been arrested for allegedly robbing and attempting to rape a French tourist in Bangkok’s backpacker district early this morning.

The crime reportedly took place in Soi Samsen 3, several hundred metres away from Bangkok's famous Khaosan Road, at around 2.30 am today.

Police say Surasak Wanprapao, 19, hit the Frenchwoman in the head with a brick stone on Samsen Road before dragging her into a nearby alley, where he proceeded to steal her iPhone and cash.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1415104653

-- Khaosod English 2014-11-04

Oh dear...what has become of Thailand? The Land of smiles has become the Land of crimes..

And TAT expects quality tourists to enter this ongoing mayhem?

Drug use on the rise.

This is the product of that. Senseless crimes wicked in nature which only human numbed on drugs could do.

I kind of doubt that Khaosan Road was ever targeted as a Quality Tourist destination.

And great respect for the second farang lady in as many days to physically repel a violent sexual predator.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head--there is the Thailand experienced by us guys and the other one experienced by females.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

These types of incidents are on the rise - it is not a good thing - and nonetheless I think BKK to be one of the safest capitals of SEA, just these assaults etc now seem to happen way too periodically, to be just ignored.

I used to live and work in this area, lived in Soi 5 and worked Soi 2, staggered home most nights without ever seeing an iota of trouble! it used to be thriving Thai and foreigner restaurant area, open until dawn everyday, I visited albeit in the day last Monday what a change most of the old shops gone seemingly replaced by many backpacker hostels.

Sadly its a case of an old area changing, different people attracting different people and not for the better it seems.

I kind of doubt that Khaosan Road was ever targeted as a Quality Tourist destination.

And great respect for the second farang lady in as many days to physically repel a violent sexual predator.

Are you implying one should get hit in the head and attempted rape should one not be in a 'Quality Tourist' area then?

Were these guys too stupid to run or what.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head--there is the Thailand experienced by us guys and the other one experienced by females.

I can see your point, and once again I'm not female but I think walking alone at 2 in the morning being a female wouldn't be advisable in any SE Asian country or probably western country.

It's not right and needs to change but it's not isolated to BKK or Thailand.

In case some of you posters have not noticed this is called Thai Visa so of course people are going to make comments about things that are occuring in Thailand. Duh.

Whatever spin people want to put on who is to blame there is a simple truth. This is not going to help Thailand's case for tourism.

On a personal level I'd like to think that women can enjoy the world equally to men. Thailand needs to be realistic about the safety of the tourists they desire so greatly.

Before someone has a go at them, plaudits to the Chanasongkram Police for nailing the cowardly little bastards.

Tourists are so naive when they come here. How can someone mesmerize you with a smile one minute and take you for everything you have the next? It's so sad to see it in the news everyday.

Tourists... never go out in a group of friends less than three.

Before someone has a go at them, plaudits to the Chanasongkram Police for nailing the cowardly little bastards.

Have they got them?

The gravy train is slowing down in all areas....expect this stuff to be on the rise.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

You are safe here until your not.I see so many wondering around in total ignorance "feeling safe" Its easy to let your guard down when away from home as everything is out of the ordinary so you rarely notice when something is brewing.

These crimes are senseless and are sadly part of the world we all live in.

Remember people stay safe and stay aware.

Before someone has a go at them, plaudits to the Chanasongkram Police for nailing the cowardly little bastards.

Have they got them?

I'd say so.

Police say they arrested Surasak and Chuen Wamakhan, an accomplice who was allegedly serving as a lookout, shortly after the tourist filed a complaint.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1415104653

Edit to add.

I think the cops will be throwing the book at these guys following the KohTao tragedy. Just as a warning . Which of course will go unheeded by the street vermin.

Thailand needs to let people know it is a dangerous place and not drop your guard. This Land of Smiles is a lie !

Oh dear...what has become of Thailand? The Land of smiles has become the Land of crimes..

What do you expect! When taxi driver have to be legal and vendors have to end their business cuz they were there illegally or on sidewalk or other reasons. These people are doing the next easiest gig without real work.

I dont see any in the story about attempted rape though. Maybe the writer got carried away with the headlines

How come whenever there's a crime here, people react like it's never happened before?

When was Thailand a crime-free paradise? When was any country?

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

I know what you mean, but just because one feels safer does not necessarily mean one IS actually safer. I think this perception has caused more than a few people to come unstuck, whether the city is Bangkok, Buenos Aires or Barcelona.

I hope the victim is recuperating as best as she possibly can. It must have been traumatic to say the least.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head--there is the Thailand experienced by us guys and the other one experienced by females.

I can see your point, and once again I'm not female but I think walking alone at 2 in the morning being a female wouldn't be advisable in any SE Asian country or probably western country.

It's not right and needs to change but it's not isolated to BKK or Thailand.

Hey, that's 50% safer than Detroit.

Even a guy isn't safe walking home alone in Detroit.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

People are commenting probably because this is a forum about Thailand. Stroll on!

And careful of that illusion that all appears safe here... newbies often tend to make that mistake and get complacent. If visitors would read the Thai tabloids, they probably wouldn't go out again.

How come whenever there's a crime here, people react like it's never happened before?

When was Thailand a crime-free paradise? When was any country?

I'd suggest the reaction comes when the crimes become more and more noticeable. If you care to read my previous post, it explains (at least) one point.

As to when - reading OSAP-records for past 10 years you'll see a trend. Still noting that BKK is one of the safest SEA-area capitals, but crime on increase.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

I know what you mean, but just because one feels safer does not necessarily mean one IS actually safer. I think this perception has caused more than a few people to come unstuck, whether the city is Bangkok, Buenos Aires or Barcelona.

I hope the victim is recuperating as best as she possibly can. It must have been traumatic to say the least.

The other Bs are far more dangerous. The difference, however, is that they do not claim to be the "Land of Smiles" with all the trust and warmth that this implies.

People are commenting like these acts only happen in Thailand.

Sure I'm a male, but I feel safer in BKK than I do in most other western cities I've visited.

People are commenting probably because this is a forum about Thailand. Stroll on!

And careful of that illusion that all appears safe here... newbies often tend to make that mistake and get complacent. If visitors would read the Thai tabloids, they probably wouldn't go out again.

I get that it's a forum about Thailand, I have lived here a while that's why I read and comment.

My point was people seem to making out likes it's a epidemic and a crime wave is going on, and another excuse for posters to lay crap on Thailand.

I agree newbies get complacent but again, newbies to London, NY and Sydney would fall for that trap and get themselves in trouble.

Unfortunately common sense is not that common.

There was an unreported sexual assault recently in Chiang Mai. From what I heard the police wouldn't even take the report, I'm guessing not to tarnish the image of the city and harm tourism, so signs were put up in the area where it happened alerting everyone it happened THERE. They have been taken down a few times, and new ones put back up.

These things happen all over the world, but drug use and booze increase the chances of it happening. Thailand is wrongly sold as paradise where it's totally safe to do anything you want, but that is not true.