So my wife and I are looking to buy a house in East Pattaya. I like the idea of being somewhat near all the fun on the beach, but prefer a more suburban setting to live. Anyway, I've noticed many of the houses in Pattaya have iron bars on the windows.

In the US, when you see iron bars on windows, that's generally a pretty good indication you're in a lousy neighborhood. However, I don't want to make assumptions.

What is crime like in East Pattaya? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

It's your choice, either iron bars on windows or iron clad insurance policy that covers all risks,

and yes, Pattaya might be a fun place but crime is rampant there also now days mostly

to fuel the need for drug's use money....

I think that if there are bars on the windows it is because they are needed and not because they look nice.

Reports of burglaries here are quite common and I suspect that many dont even get reported.

Some villages with good security and high walls are probably better than others, but for real security a condo is probably the best solution.

My bars will never stop a determined thief, but hopefully they will encourage him to go to a house that doesn't have them

streets Southward of Soi Siam Country there seem to be quite some break-in's.

streets Northward of Soi Siam Country seem to be less vulnerable so far

Thanks for the good information all.

It's common in Asia and especially Thailand to have security bars on windows. With poor policing, deterrence is important. It's really not correct to paint Pattaya as bad. This is common all over the country. It's the culture.

It's common in Asia and especially Thailand to have security bars on windows. With poor policing, deterrence is important. It's really not correct to paint Pattaya as bad. This is common all over the country. It's the culture.

Yes, this^^^. And very often you will see barbed wire or even razor wire on the tops of security walls and around balconies. In Cambodia home owners are even more cautious with barbed or razor wire across the tops of pointy iron bars. In Phnom Penh the break-in threat is real. I agree with the above. I don't think it's as bad in east-side Pattaya, although you do hear stories.

It's common in Asia and especially Thailand to have security bars on windows. With poor policing, deterrence is important. It's really not correct to paint Pattaya as bad. This is common all over the country. It's the culture.

Yes you are correct, very common in the whole SEA, talked to a work buddy from Malaysia and they also uses iron bars there.

The big differences in income is fueling burglaries, many have almost nothing and take the chance if they get it.

The house behind mine was broken into, they didn't have any iron bars nor a dog, easy target.

The police caught him, a 17 year young dude.

Security in my village have been beefed up after that, cctv cameras on each soi and the guards can access them from the guard houses and there are also big signs at the gate showing we got them and no burglaries since then.

I don't mind the iron bars and I sleep very good at night.

It sounds like you are a newbie here. If so, I suggest you rent a house for awhile to see if you like it. Unfortunately, even the best villages get broken into. The reality is what good are two sleeping security guards at the gate entrance? Interesting how some of the break-ins occur when the house is vacant and you are away for the weekend or on holiday. Are the guards the informers? Construction workers the informers? Pattaya draws in not only construction workers from Cambodia/Laos but also Thais on minimum wage working for the tourist industry. These folks also want a nice phone or new motorbike so will take the chance to burglarize a place. (bars on windows in SE Asia is common, at least it is not like living in Kenya where you may get stabbed/shot during the robbery so you also have bars on your bedroom door.)

If you have no children, I would move into a decent condo where you do not worry about being broken into.

Edited December 21, 201510 yr by toenail

It's common in Asia and especially Thailand to have security bars on windows. With poor policing, deterrence is important. It's really not correct to paint Pattaya as bad. This is common all over the country. It's the culture.

Ah I had a feeling there was a culture thing to it. Those bars really aren't much. As a previous poster said, they won't stop a determined thief. It appears that basically I shouldn't let the bars scare me off, as it's not the same thing as a neighborhood in the US where you see bars on windows.

It sounds like you are a newbie here. If so, I suggest you rent a house for awhile to see if you like it. Unfortunately, even the best villages get broken into. The reality is what good are two sleeping security guards at the gate entrance? Interesting how some of the break-ins occur when the house is vacant and you are away for the weekend or on holiday. Are the guards the informers? Construction workers the informers? Pattaya draws in not only construction workers from Cambodia/Laos but also Thais on minimum wage working for the tourist industry. These folks also want a nice phone or new motorbike so will take the chance to burglarize a place. (bars on windows in SE Asia is common, at least it is not like living in Kenya where you may get stabbed/shot during the robbery so you also have bars on your bedroom door.)

If you have no children, I would move into a decent condo where you do not worry about being broken into.

I haven't moved there yet. My wife is a Thai national. I am just doing initial research. I keep telling her a condo would be best, but she has this thing about wanting a yard. It looks like I need to try harder selling her on a nice balcony with lots of plants is almost as good as a yard.

I have been to Pattaya a few times and Bangkok many times. I have never once felt in danger, so I was a bit surprised to see the bars on the windows. It also appears I just didn't notice them on previous trips. Thanks for the good information.

Oh but I definitely think renting is the way to go for a while, as getting a feel for the area would be nice before writing a check and then being stuck with a house I don't want. Thanks for that.

Edited December 21, 201510 yr by MajarTheLion

I thought the iron bars was put in by the wives of falangs to stop them getting out at night.

I would make one comment to the OP about bars on all windows and doors, consider your exit if there is a fire.

Beside security bars I do recommend to install also a cctv system, which starts around 20K. Worth the money and works fine for me till now.

It sounds like you are a newbie here. If so, I suggest you rent a house for awhile to see if you like it. Unfortunately, even the best villages get broken into. The reality is what good are two sleeping security guards at the gate entrance? Interesting how some of the break-ins occur when the house is vacant and you are away for the weekend or on holiday. Are the guards the informers? Construction workers the informers? Pattaya draws in not only construction workers from Cambodia/Laos but also Thais on minimum wage working for the tourist industry. These folks also want a nice phone or new motorbike so will take the chance to burglarize a place. (bars on windows in SE Asia is common, at least it is not like living in Kenya where you may get stabbed/shot during the robbery so you also have bars on your bedroom door.)

If you have no children, I would move into a decent condo where you do not worry about being broken into.

I haven't moved there yet. My wife is a Thai national. I am just doing initial research. I keep telling her a condo would be best, but she has this thing about wanting a yard. It looks like I need to try harder selling her on a nice balcony with lots of plants is almost as good as a yard.

I have been to Pattaya a few times and Bangkok many times. I have never once felt in danger, so I was a bit surprised to see the bars on the windows. It also appears I just didn't notice them on previous trips. Thanks for the good information.

if you research and think about it most Thai ladies/wives will always prefer houses over condos as they will own the prorperty Farangs can own condos but not land/houses

I would make one comment to the OP about bars on all windows and doors, consider your exit if there is a fire.

Indeed I was wondering about that. I am concerned with such things. Personally I would want a fire extinguisher in every room whose only exit to the exterior is a window with bars. Very good point.

Beside security bars I do recommend to install also a cctv system, which starts around 20K. Worth the money and works fine for me till now.

Sounds like a great deterrent also.

Not only homes in Pattaya have bars on windows.

I live in a small Issan village have bars on downstairs windows, and 4 camera cctv system.

I find cameras and bars are a got deterrent.

Sorry mind went blank. BARS AND CAMERAS ARE A GOOD DETERRENT.

Homes with bars: = Valuables inside, worth a burglary.

Homes with no bars: = No valuables inside. Not worth a burglary.

Besides, the reason for those bars are mentioned in post # 13.

Cheers.

I live in a Suburb of Chiang Mai ,in a gated community and we have bars .Its not that there are loads of house robberies (although you get some ,but not us so far )..Its because the light alloy windows supplied with almost every house can be prized open with a simple screwdriver.

property crime up 67% in thailand YOY for the ones that are reporting you be the judge, violent crime up 17% YOY that was the story the thai printer deleted from the international new york times good luck. anywhere else crime was up 67% YOY troops would be walking the streets

buy in a good village with good security no bars no burglaries but wont be cheap 10 million up

Iron bars should be put from the inside of the house and not from the outside.

If your wife wins and you end up buying a house with bars on the windows all you have to do is get the windows removed and replace them with double glazing UPVC windows and doors or buy a new one that is not built yet and put in the UPVC windows. Not easy to break in without making a lot of noise so for most burglars they will go to another house that is easier and no bars with easy escape if there is a fire. Its better to rent for a year or two to find out if you like the area first. Yes a condo would be safer but the problems with some condos are all the problems other people bring with noise and disputes about rubbish and so on if its not run very good. But I have lived in east pattaya for over 15 years in the same house with no problems so far I may just be lucky but you have to make sure you have good property insurance.

Good luck in what ever you do.

Regards

Scotsman

My Moobaan near CM has been up for 3 years.

About 120 of the 250 houses have the bars.

Not one burglary ............ ever.

It's just one of those things Thais like to do.

Thanks for the info, but iron bars, I am trying hard to give them up!. As for Pattaya East, I feel it better to approach with the idea of" what would Pattaya East be like without crime"?

property crime up 67% in thailand YOY for the ones that are reporting you be the judge, violent crime up 17% YOY that was the story the thai printer deleted from the international new york times good luck. anywhere else crime was up 67% YOY troops would be walking the streets

Figures were incorrect as apparently there had been a change in reporting method since the previous year - NYT did print a correction.

Off topic baiting troll post removed