Tourists report being robbed on the way to Koh Tao

[webfact]

Tourists report being robbed on the way to Koh Tao

 

SAMUI: -- Last week a couple who travelled from Bangkok to Koh Tao on a Songserm bus / boat packaged reported being robbed en-route.

 

The young couple told the police that all the money had been taken from both of their bags and their hand luggage that had been stowed on the floor beside them.

 

Due to the location of the luggage the only feasible explanation for the robbery, the couple surmised, was that they were robbed during their sleep.

 

After a report went out about the young couple, on social media others came forward with similar stories. One comment on the story read:

“it’s been going on for about ten years now”, another reported that he knew a man who had his money, dive gear, passport and credit cards only a few days prior to the young couple, a third poster said.

“I got robbed on the same bus first time I came down, I stopped at Khao Lak though.

 

There is someone inside the luggage compartment, half way through the journey, the bus will pull over somewhere random, the driver gets out, the guy from the luggage gets out, and then gets onto another bus going the other way. Been going on for years here.” 

 

A link warning of the dangers from Trip advisor was also posted by a disgruntled client.

 

Source: http://www.samuitimes.com/tourists-report-being-robbed-on-the-way-to-koh-tao/

 

-- © Copyright Samui Times 2016-08-29

[lust]

Lol. So if it's been going on for years then why is this news? Happened to us too. Bus gets on the ferry, bus driver tells everyone to go upstairs. When we got to our hotel, all of our stuff had been folded neatly prior to traveling and then ripped apart and stuffed back in. 

[gk10002000]

My cash, passport, tickets, etc go in my fanny pack, around my waist and under my shirt.  Not saying they couldn't get stuff out of there, but there is no way I am that light of a sleeper.  hand luggage stowed is a high priority target because the bad guys know that many people put their valuables in their hand luggage, then naively stow the bags!

[ClutchClark]

40 minutes ago, lust said:

Lol. So if it's been going on for years then why is this news? Happened to us too. Bus gets on the ferry, bus driver tells everyone to go upstairs. When we got to our hotel, all of our stuff had been folded neatly prior to traveling and then ripped apart and stuffed back in. 

 

The reason its news is to remind all of us to be vigilant.

 

Having lived in Latin America for some years, where Crime is so rampant I once had to stop a couple guys from stealing an elderly womans umbrella in a rainstorm, its quite easy to get complacent here in LOS where crime is minimal.

 

I appreciate the news article as a reminder.

[ClutchClark]

Songserm bus employees are pure scum because this has been going on fotr years. Especially the thefts in the baggage compartment.

 

get this news out on social media and the backpacker travel forums to start putting some pressure to shut that buslines down.

[ezzra]

Any greenhorn tourists worth their salt, should know the first rule of traveling

to keep your cash and valuables close to you and on you,

failing to follow this simple common sense advice, and you pay the price.....

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Any greenhorn tourists worth their salt, should know the first rule of traveling

to keep your cash and valuables close to you and on you,

failing to follow this simple common sense advice, and you pay the price.....

Along with don't take overnight buses in Thailand.....

[diddygq]

They got me for a few gadgets that I had in my backpack.  It was probably the same bus as I was headed to Koh Phang Ngang at the time.  Well, it happens on all of the buses I guess.

[joebrown]

2 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

 

The reason its news is to remind all of us to be vigilant.

 

Having lived in Latin America for some years, where Crime is so rampant I once had to stop a couple guys from stealing an elderly womans umbrella in a rainstorm, its quite easy to get complacent here in LOS where crime is minimal.

 

I appreciate the news article as a reminder.

The reason it's news again is because despite many thefts occurring in the past, the police have failed to stop the thieves taking travellers' money and valuables.

Sadly, the news article is about travel in LOS  not Latin America. Nevertheless, I'm sure  your reminder will be appreciated by future travellers to that continent.

[PoorSucker]

If you travel on a bus with only foreigners, you are on the wrong bus.
If you are the only foreigner on the bus, you have chosen wisely.

[mesterm]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Along with don't take overnight buses in Thailand.....

 

Or try not to take buses in Thailand in general. 

[Sphere]

Quote

There is someone inside the luggage compartment.....

 

Is that dwarf still at it?

 

Should've made enough money by now to by an island in the Bahamas.

[Scouse123]

Guys,

 

Since no violence or intimidation or threats/ weapons were used it is the act of THEFT not ROBBERY.

 

There are far safer ways and nearly as cheap options to travel than the overnight bus. The train for example.

 

The number 85 train goes from Bangkok to Surat Thani at a cost of 1,500 baht in first class double lock cabin with the second passenger travelling with you at 1,100 including the bus and ferry charges to Samui.

 

Second class is even cheaper but not as secure.

 

If the people had absolutely no other means of getting there, at least use a ' bum bag ' around the waist for valuables such as cash and passports. I feel sorry for those who lost valuables on their journey, it spoils the adventure but please be vigilant, not only Thailand, every country in the world there are opportunistic thieves, don't make it easy.

[Briggsy]

Please note these are almost guaranteed to be the private buses operating from Khao San Road operating outside of any government concession and thus regulation. They are effectively privately contracted coaches. These robberies have been going for decades from these unregulated buses.

 

There are virtually no similar stories from the inter-city buses run under government concession. The nearest route here would be Sai Tai Mai to Chumporn.

 

However tourists are unlikely to know about government concession buses and will almost all take the Khao San bus. And some will get robbed.

[madmitch]

We have many guests travelling from Phuket to Koh Tao, Samui and Phangan and have been giving warnings about this for a long time. We tend to recommend Lomprayah but the price is beyond the budget of many of our guests so anyone taking the cheaper option is fully aware of the possibilities of their bags being ransacked. These cheap operators have passengers change buses several times, each stop giving an opportunity for theft or for a kid to get into the luggage compartment. I know it's the same from Bangkok.

 

 

[petermik]

I find this hard to believe.....being robbed in LOS

[Penicillin]

7 hours ago, lust said:

Lol. So if it's been going on for years then why is this news? Happened to us too. Bus gets on the ferry, bus driver tells everyone to go upstairs. When we got to our hotel, all of our stuff had been folded neatly prior to traveling and then ripped apart and stuffed back in. 

It's called public awareness . 

Crime in not new news ,but I sure am glad that the stories get out as to when , where , and methods used to keep us informed so we can be vigilant . 

[PoorSucker]

Bickering posts removed.

Please behave.

[samuijimmy]

Nonsense posts removed...

[Rod Gold]

There is a good reason to suspect that the reason this is still going on, is because it brings in a good income to a number of people.

[Bender]

45 minutes ago, Rod Gold said:

There is a good reason to suspect that the reason this is still going on, is because it brings in a good income to a number of people.

so in 2016, they are still robbing tourists on the bus?

[samuijimmy]

Another nonsense post removed... smarten up you guys.... with the digs and Thai / Koh Toa bashing...

 

Thefts happen all over the world, people need to use common sense and protect their valuables... 

 

 

[samuijimmy]

A post removed as not  relevant to this topic... 

[SOTIRIOS]

....the headline suggests they are lying....

 

...that is the way it works here....wow....

[henry15]

Take an inter regional govermentbus at Sai Tai, you wil never have this kind of problems. If this few hundred Baht is beyond your budget. You should save some more before you come to Thailand

[aquario33]

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

Any greenhorn tourists worth their salt, should know the first rule of traveling

to keep your cash and valuables close to you and on you,

failing to follow this simple common sense advice, and you pay the price.....

so would you recommend to ''store '' your dive gear in your pocket too???

[samuijimmy]

If this topic is going to be continuous idiotic replies ... it can be closed...  last warning. 

[dunroaming]

Thailand is a place where you will be robbed or conned or mugged.  Many third world countries are like this, anyone who has been travelling in Africa or South America will know that.  Thailand does come with warnings for travellers but for some reason many people still see the Thais as honest gentle folk.  Maybe a couple of days perusing  the TV website would put them straight.

[PoorSucker]

Seems that this topic must be closed as half of the responses are nonsense or off topic.