Just a heads up. A woman I know was confronted in the soi 2 nights ago by robbers, not the usual "snatch robbers," but more brazen ones. There were 3 young men ages 16-18 maybe, on a motorbike who passed her and then came back. One of them got off the bike and blocked her, saying "money." She said, I don't have money, but he pointed at the small pouch she had in her hand, and then grabbed it from her. Luckily she only lost about 300 b, but it was scary and happened on her first night in CM.

It was 9-10 pm near Chiang Mai Gate.

Hopefully, the new CCTV cameras are working.

Soi 2 what road?

Soi 2 what road?

It didn't happen in Soi 2, it happened in a Soi - two nights ago

And I hope she reported it to the local BiB, thereby a history can be started so when/if they catch these low life scum; the proverbial book can be thrown at them.

I hear stories like this are commonplace in areas like Pattaya, but hope like hell that it doesnt become the norm here.

Sorry to hear this in an otherwise restive little town/city.

Did she report it to the police?

If so, what was the response?

No such place as Soi 2 Chiang Mai Gate and what would a woman who has never been here before be doing walking around that area at 9 or 10.00 at night when there is nothing of interested in that area that time of night?

I`m calling troll on this one unless the OP can be more specific regarding the details.

No such place as Soi 2 Chiang Mai Gate and what would a woman who has never been here before be doing walking around that area at 9 or 10.00 at night when there is nothing of interested in that area that time of night?

Reread the OP and imagine punctuation in it. It was in the Soi, 2 nights ago. So tourists are not allowed after 9:00 PM to look around in Chiang Mai? Plus there are hotels/guest houses in the area, perhaps heading back. And don't be so quick on the troll card if you can't think it through.

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And I hope she reported it to the local BiB, thereby a history can be started so when/if they catch these low life scum; the proverbial book can be thrown at them.

I hear stories like this are commonplace in areas like Pattaya, but hope like hell that it doesnt become the norm here.

Sorry to hear this in an otherwise restive little town/city.

In a city the size of Chiang Mai it is bound to happen. But one occasion does not a dangerous city make.

I see the OP has been a member since March 2010 and this is the first time he has heard of some thing like this happening.

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And I hope she reported it to the local BiB, thereby a history can be started so when/if they catch these low life scum; the proverbial book can be thrown at them.

I hear stories like this are commonplace in areas like Pattaya, but hope like hell that it doesnt become the norm here.

Sorry to hear this in an otherwise restive little town/city.

In a city the size of Chiang Mai it is bound to happen. But one occasion does not a dangerous city make.

I see the OP has been a member since March 2010 and this is the first time he has heard of some thing like this happening.

So the poster has been a member almost 3 and a half years longer than you... what does that have to do with it?

There was a recent news story of a city much smaller than Chiang Mai and some young people were alleged to have committed a copycat crime of the Koh Tao murder of two foreigners.

I believe there are robberies and burglaries in Chiang Mai much more than you think.

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And I hope she reported it to the local BiB, thereby a history can be started so when/if they catch these low life scum; the proverbial book can be thrown at them.

I hear stories like this are commonplace in areas like Pattaya, but hope like hell that it doesnt become the norm here.

Sorry to hear this in an otherwise restive little town/city.

In a city the size of Chiang Mai it is bound to happen. But one occasion does not a dangerous city make.

I see the OP has been a member since March 2010 and this is the first time he has heard of some thing like this happening.

So the poster has been a member almost 3 and a half years longer than you... what does that have to do with it?

There was a recent news story of a city much smaller than Chiang Mai and some young people were alleged to have committed a copycat crime of the Koh Tao murder of two foreigners.

I believe there are robberies and burglaries in Chiang Mai much more than you think.

Reread my post. He has been a member the Thai Visa for three and a half years and hears about one robbery and rushes to T V. To warn us. In a city this size I am surprised he would find that as startling news. Were you unaware that some thing like that could happen in a city the size of Chiang Mia? Not even news worthy. 300 baht and no harm done I better warn all the Thai Visa posters.

NorthernJohn,

You are not using an open mind. I don't see anywhere in the original post that indicates how many times the person has heard about a robbery in Chiang Mai. How did you know the poster has only heard about one robbery?

Newsworthy or not, the OP first said, "Just a heads up."

It appears to me your attitude towards something like this is one of naivety. The story I alluded to about some youths doing a copycat crime was not for any money.

You say, "300 baht and no harm done." What if the victims had been carrying 100,000 baht? The perpetraters didn't know they only had 300 baht. Would the crime have been any more or less dangerous? Maybe you haven't heard about the motorcycle gangs in the past slicing people when they snatched handbags, not knowing whether the bag had 300 baht, 100,000 baht, or anything at all of value.

You are a member that likes to try and give information to what you call newcomers like you are an expert.... Why wouldn't a newcomer want to know of the incident in the original post?

jeez, some people are so quick to jump on others, and for what reason....? Anyway, it was just a heads up as the style of the robbery was different --and much more confrontational than the usual drive by grab. Call it what you want, but I hope it helps somebody. Prapokklao Soi 4

Its a wonder it does not happen a lot more, really,this is a must

have society,but with wages of 300 THB per day, IF you have a

job,Lots of Thais seem to think tourists are rolling in money,so

they become a target,

Robberies,muggings and just wanton violence against people

walking at night are much more common in Western cities,

where the perpetrators are most likely on some form of Govt.

support,but thats never enough and they need to take more

by force,to buy drugs or just to live,so really we should feel

lucky that this type of crime is so low here.

regards Worgeordie

Its a wonder it does not happen a lot more, really,this is a must

have society,but with wages of 300 THB per day, IF you have a

job,Lots of Thais seem to think tourists are rolling in money,so

they become a target,

I was talking to a friend about this last week in Saigon, which co-incidentally is the only place I've ever had anything taken from me (my bag was snatched). I think it's pretty amazing that there isn't more of this kind of opportunistic crime in a city of this size, with the number of out-of-towners here for work. In that regard I think that we are truly lucky.

I'm also with you on Thai's (not just them, I think people in all developing countries) think we are all very rich. Of course, comparatively we are a lot richer than the type of locals who come to this conclusion, but not everyone is lighting cigarettes with pound notes - in fact in England, I don't know how anyone can afford to smoke, I bought a packet for an aunt at almost a tenner earlier this year! They seem either unable or unwilling to understand how the vast majority of people have to work extra hours and save up for months or even years to have a holiday in a long-haul destination. I don't bother trying to explain it anymore.

There seems to be people here who know this kind of theft is here in Chiang Mai is not frequent. Do any of you have a basis for your view or is it just because in your small circle of life here you have not heard of much and you choose to believe that your small circle of information is representative of the whole?

There seems to be people here who know this kind of theft is here in Chiang Mai is not frequent. Do any of you have a basis for your view or is it just because in your small circle of life here you have not heard of much and you choose to believe that your small circle of information is representative of the whole?

So Dante do you know something that nobody else knows,if so please

give us your views on the subject,i am sure it would be refreshing.

You seem to know how people live, with their small circle of friends,

how you can make statements like that,when most people on here

are anonymous,one could be your next door neighbour you would never

know.

regards Worgeordie

It happens and it is mostly opportunistic. If you are carrying something that looks like it may have valuables or wearing gold it is obviously more likely to happen. I had it happen once to me but partly my fault as I had forgotten to take off a gold necklace. You need to be aware of your surroundings . They normally stake you out on the first drive by and come back for the snatch. The guy who tried it on me did not get what he bargained for !

There seems to be people here who know this kind of theft is here in Chiang Mai is not frequent. Do any of you have a basis for your view or is it just because in your small circle of life here you have not heard of much and you choose to believe that your small circle of information is representative of the whole?

So Dante do you know something that nobody else knows,if so please

give us your views on the subject,i am sure it would be refreshing.

You seem to know how people live, with their small circle of friends,

how you can make statements like that,when most people on here

are anonymous,one could be your next door neighbour you would never

know.

regards Worgeordie

My posts were not based on facts just common sense. Could be one in three and 1/2years is indeed some thing to get excited about. Me I took it to be part and parcel of living here or any of the other places I have lived. Of this size.

Each has their own experience and belief of what common sense is all about and they are welcome to it. It is nice to see a thread like this where we can see the experiences and common sense of others.

There seems to be people here who know this kind of theft is here in Chiang Mai is not frequent. Do any of you have a basis for your view or is it just because in your small circle of life here you have not heard of much and you choose to believe that your small circle of information is representative of the whole?

So Dante do you know something that nobody else knows,if so please

give us your views on the subject,i am sure it would be refreshing.

You seem to know how people live, with their small circle of friends,

how you can make statements like that,when most people on here

are anonymous,one could be your next door neighbour you would never

know.

regards Worgeordie

No, I do not know something nobody else knows and never suggested that I did, what gave you that idea?

I did not make a statement to the effect that I know how people lived in a small circle of friends, that was just an alternative answer to a question I posed. Certainly there could be numerous appropriate responses to the inquiry.

As far as a member here being my neighbor, I assure you that I know if that is or is not the case because I know my neighbors well. Are you suggesting that my neighbors live in a small circle of friends or that they do not? And what do my neighbors have to do with it anyway?

There seems to be people here who know this kind of theft is here in Chiang Mai is not frequent. Do any of you have a basis for your view or is it just because in your small circle of life here you have not heard of much and you choose to believe that your small circle of information is representative of the whole?

So Dante do you know something that nobody else knows,if so please

give us your views on the subject,i am sure it would be refreshing.

You seem to know how people live, with their small circle of friends,

how you can make statements like that,when most people on here

are anonymous,one could be your next door neighbour you would never

know.

regards Worgeordie

My posts were not based on facts just common sense. Could be one in three and 1/2years is indeed some thing to get excited about. Me I took it to be part and parcel of living here or any of the other places I have lived. Of this size.

Each has their own experience and belief of what common sense is all about and they are welcome to it. It is nice to see a thread like this where we can see the experiences and common sense of others.

Three cheers for common sense John, really.

But what do you think, is it better than uncommon sense?

Hopefully, the new CCTV cameras are working.

Not yet. They are just now are getting wired up.

The snatch and grab guys are hammering Chinese tourists like crazy right now, purses, bags and cameras. I talked to a girl at Starbucks who was robbed right in front of the police station at dusk on her way back from the temple at the end of the road. I saw on a Chinese travel site where they have been talking about this in Chiang Mai, so it seems to be common. These robberies probably has something to do with the ungodly amount of new cams they have installed.

That said, it's really hard to catch that sort of criminal. It happens fast. Even with the cams recording them, if they cover their plate and wear a hat or shades, it will be difficult to see who they are.

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And I hope she reported it to the local BiB, thereby a history can be started so when/if they catch these low life scum; the proverbial book can be thrown at them.

I hear stories like this are commonplace in areas like Pattaya, but hope like hell that it doesnt become the norm here.

Sorry to hear this in an otherwise restive little town/city.

In a city the size of Chiang Mai it is bound to happen. But one occasion does not a dangerous city make.

I see the OP has been a member since March 2010 and this is the first time he has heard of some thing like this happening.

So the poster has been a member almost 3 and a half years longer than you... what does that have to do with it?

There was a recent news story of a city much smaller than Chiang Mai and some young people were alleged to have committed a copycat crime of the Koh Tao murder of two foreigners.

I believe there are robberies and burglaries in Chiang Mai much more than you think.

Exactly. Robberies and burglaries mentioned in the local papers all the time.

My posts were not based on facts just common sense. Could be one in three and 1/2years is indeed some thing to get excited about. Me I took it to be part and parcel of living here or any of the other places I have lived. Of this size.

Each has their own experience and belief of what common sense is all about and they are welcome to it. It is nice to see a thread like this where we can see the experiences and common sense of others.

Had to read the first sentence several times before I realised he used the word "just", and not "or" as I thought the first few times.

A dozen years in the city, very often out and about all areas of the city at all times of night, a wide circle of friends who are also often out late at night . . . and I've never known any farang in Chiang Mai who has experienced this type of direct confrontation and robbery.

(I did hear in the English language news about one instance a couple of years ago where two farang woman were robbed about 2 am in front of a 7-11 near Chang Puak Gate, and of course have heard about motorcycle drive-by robberies but almost all not involving farang).

But unlike those who think the fact that this rarely happens here makes it non-newsworthy, I think that's exactly what does make it newsworthy and highly worrisome.

Yes, common sense needs to be used . . . single female travelers should not wander a small soi alone really late at night anywhere in the world. But many guesthouses in Chiang Mai are on small sois, and 9-10 at night or even midnight has never been a problem for females in Chiang Mai before, and even later than that if you are not alone. (I personally have never been worried going anywhere alone in Chiang Mai at anytime of the night)

Chiang Mai has always been a place where you could be out late at night and not really worry about this kind of assault happening, and that has been one of the things that makes it a great place to live and visit. If this kind of robbery (and the inevitable physical assaults that will come along with it) becomes common, it will change the entire nature of the city.

I really hope that doesn't happen.

A dozen years in the city, very often out and about all areas of the city at all times of night, a wide circle of friends who are also often out late at night . . . and I've never known any farang in Chiang Mai who has experienced this type of direct confrontation and robbery.

(I did hear in the English language news about one instance a couple of years ago where two farang woman were robbed about 2 am in front of a 7-11 near Chang Puak Gate, and of course have heard about motorcycle drive-by robberies but almost all not involving farang).

But unlike those who think the fact that this rarely happens here makes it non-newsworthy, I think that's exactly what does make it newsworthy and highly worrisome.

Yes, common sense needs to be used . . . single female travelers should not wander a small soi alone really late at night anywhere in the world. But many guesthouses in Chiang Mai are on small sois, and 9-10 at night or even midnight has never been a problem for females in Chiang Mai before, and even later than that if you are not alone. (I personally have never been worried going anywhere alone in Chiang Mai at anytime of the night)

Chiang Mai has always been a place where you could be out late at night and not really worry about this kind of assault happening, and that has been one of the things that makes it a great place to live and visit. If this kind of robbery (and the inevitable physical assaults that will come along with it) becomes common, it will change the entire nature of the city.

I really hope that doesn't happen.

Insightful post, and a good summing up for this contentious but interesting thread.

With such a large increase in the foreign population of Chiang Mai, the odds of crime against foreigners would probably go up. I don't think being a foreigner makes one completely protected from crime. Of course this is just my opinion.