Distraction Theft

[Tuwaiq]

In a nutshell what happened to me was that i got onto the baht bus that runs from Jomtien beach (where i was staying) a week ago, going over Budda hill to the city main.

 

About 5 mins into the journey a group of approx 10 girls jumped onto the back of the bus, pretty well filling it up at the back. I found myself squashed against someone to my right tight due to the shortage of space. Suddenly the girl opposite me randomly sparks off conversation..

 

"hello..", "how are yooooo..", you get the picture - meanwhile the girl squashed up against my right hand side is very carefully lifting the wallet out of my open pocket.

 

Five mins later, the girls all jump off the bus together, pay their 10 bt fees and off they go. I realised exactly what happened a few mins later when it was time to get off. Was pissed off cos im normally quite switched on - must have been an off day. Anyway, no real damage and no cash was in the wallet and the card taken was cancelled quick time.

 

I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else or if this is a common thing - and obviously to warn you all of a similar scenario happening....

[classnotgas]

mate of mine got done exactly the same 2 yrs ago ... there have been many threads about this but its all to easy to drop your guard ... rule 1 ...... on a baht bus hand on cash or wallet at all times ........ rule 2 ........ fuck lots a bar girls lol

[robio]

Quite common unfortunately, but little that can be done about it. I carry my cash and my phone in my front right pocket and do not carry a wallet. In congested areas, I slip my hand in the right pocket to protect my valuables. Years of living in the very pickpocket friendly country of China have taught me that this is necessary. Luckily not much harm was done!

 

Enjoy the rest of your trip...

[Tuwaiq]

Agreed. Rule no. 2 is the easy one

[The Seeker]

Sorry to hear about that. Even for someone who is switched on you can get caught out. I would be pissed off too for a while but at least there was no money in the wallet and you cancelled your card quickly.

[dibley69]

yep this happened to me about 3 years ago, the conversation, the sitting next to me etc, again luckily for me i had only 40 baht on me in change and was on the way to the cash point with my rucksack across my knees and the 40 baht was in my pocket ready to pay the driver when i got off, didnt feel a thing when i got off before the girls, i put my hand in my short side pocket to pay the driver and the money was gone. I told the driver i think the girls took my money and on hearing this one of the 3 girls said she would pay for me?? At the time i just thought the money had dropped out of my pocket somewhere and she was being nice and friendly it wasnt til the bus went that the penny dropped..From then on when on baht bus i have my hand constantly on whatever money i have on me,

[BostonSteve]

Had my wallet lifted about 5 years ago out of my back pocket. Not in any foreign country but here at home. Never carried it anywhere but my front pocket from their on.

 

I feel your pain. It is not the money or the cards, it is the complete hassle.

[Craig_ozz]

I always buy shorts where i can carry wallet/money in my front pockets now. I know you can still get done but makes it just a little harder.

 

PS - my friend got his wallet ripped in Phuket a couple of months ago by a group of ladyboys. They came up to him and was talking and feeling him up when he seen his wallet in one of their hands. They took his money out, and thru his wallet on the ground and walked off.

 

What do you do if that happens? they might have knives etc.

[pubstud]

I always buy shorts where i can carry wallet/money in my front pockets now. I know you can still get done but makes it just a little harder.

 

PS - my friend got his wallet ripped in phuket a couple of months ago by a group of ladyboys. They came up to him and was talking and feeling him up when he seen his wallet in one of their hands. They took his money out, and thru his wallet on the ground and walked off.

 

What do you do if that happens? they might have knives etc.

 

Fucking dirtbags. What can you do? Nothing. Tell the pigs and they only laugh, and if they do anything about it and catch the LBs then you get your photo taken and put in the local newspaper and on the Internet, so then everybody thinks you're a poofter who's been fooling around with LBs.

[hggcraig]

Personally I dont understand why men carry wallets in their back pockets, always seemed an easy target to me.

 

My mate lost his wallet in Magaluf, a street walker asked him if he wanted a blowjob and grabbed his cock. As she grabbed his cock she also picked his pocket so that he would be distracted.

 

Im a bit too cautious, i always walk around with my hands in my pockets but thats also because im usually trying to hide my hard on, because of the cialis

[magmag2]

Hi all,

Sadly,just back from week in Pats.

My mate had his wallet last week taken on baht bus Beach Road by Mother (doing the distraction) and daughter doing the "pick"

He thought it was a mum "selling" her daughter and in a way it was. It seems they watched him in street taking 10 baht out for taxi so wouldnt be conscious of wallet missing until taxi well gone. One other experience on previous trip was similar but taxi drive stopped, got out and ejected the two "regulars" off the taxi. Big tip for him!!

Had an experience twice in Go GO Bar where service girls unbuttoned all of my shirt from top to bottom without me noticing AND I WAS SOBER. She could have stolen anything from me and I wouldn't have known.

Good investment is wallet with chain to belt!! Happy hunting and be aware

Remember how many times would 1 x 1000 baht go missing from our wallets and not notice ie if they don't take it all we don't notice $40.00 going missing.

PS anyone not going to Thailand due to the problems in BNK stop worrying go go go

[Jolly Roger]

I had both my front pockets of fairly tight trousers picked in a night club about 3 months ago.

Wallet from 1 pocket, phone from the other ..... never felt a thing.

Only noticed after I had left the club ... went to make a phone call.

 

Wallet didn't matter, phone cost 5,000bht.

 

Didn't have a clue who did it or when, some of these thieves are good!

If someone had told me earlier this could happen without me knowing I would have laughed in their faces.

Edited May 28, 2010 by Jolly Roger

[Lucifer88]

Personally I dont understand why men carry wallets in their back pockets, always seemed an easy target to me.

 

My mate lost his wallet in Magaluf, a street walker asked him if he wanted a blowjob and grabbed his cock. As she grabbed his cock she also picked his pocket so that he would be distracted.

 

Im a bit too cautious, i always walk around with my hands in my pockets but thats also because im usually trying to hide my hard on, because of the cialis

 

 

i also had this exact stunt pulled on me in angeles city outside the wild orchid hotel about 3am,,, caught the lady boy and almost broke his/her arm in the process. front pocket only from now on

[Upharsin1]

This squashing up close to guys on baht buses, striking up conversation and fingering their pockets is a trend that has been happening for a while.

 

The catch all advice is just to be wary in crowded situations.

 

There is no reason why this shouldn't happen in a crowded disco for example...a girl or even two grab hold of you and rub themselves up against you. It is dark, noisy, with disorientating flashing lights, you're horny, drunk, tired....

 

Would be a lot easier for them in that situation than on a baht bus.

Edited May 29, 2010 by Upharsin1

[johnnyoz]

I have seen on this forum advice of not to carry too much cash,about 4-5,000 baht.

Keep your stash,passport and valubles in your room safe.

I have been to Patts 5 times and have been luckly so far.

I generally go for my daily walk from Patts to Jomtiem and catch the Baht Bus back.

If the bus gets crowded I opt to ride on the rear platform.It's fun.

If anyone that I think is suspicious gets on I get off.

On my daily walks I carry a very light duffle type bag and put my wallett,with very little cash during the day,

phone an old style 3210 Nokia that nobody would want,I leave my good phone at home, and anything else

that I might need.I securely sling the duffle bag over my shoulder.

At night when I go out I generally wear cargo style pants/shorts with Zip pockets and I carry

cash or wallett in my front pockets.

If you need to carry a lot of cash for some reason the next best place is inside your undies or socks.

Just be carefull when you go for a piss,you could shoot cash all over the place 555.

Cheers Lorenzo

[SlickMonkey]

1. Put a rubber band around your wallet. Makes it harder to slide out of rear pocket.

2. Don't carry money in wallet. Put money in from pocket with rubber band around it too.

3. Don't carry more than you can afford to loose in one day.

4. If you can, wear pants that have a button on the rear pockets. Or have someone sew a small piece of Velcro to your rear pants pockets before the trip. It makes it impossible for someone to lift your wallet.

5. Keep one Credit card in Wallet and backup credit cards in the safe just in case you loose one or the other.

6. I keep some cash in large bills stashed in my clothes packed in my suitcase just in case and the rest in the safe.

7. Only keep on hand 2-3 days cash and when u need more do a cash advance on a Debit Card at a bank or ATM machine. I use Charles Schwab ATM Visa Debit card so there is never a ATM fee. (It is always refunded by Charles Schwab)

[goldfinger24]

Yes another fave move is when your walking 2 ladyboys will approach one goes to grab your bollocks and you instinctivly go to grap there hand , while the other is in your pockets beach road famous for it.

[jasonbalmer]

Yes another fave move is when your walking 2 ladyboys will approach one goes to grab your bollocks and you instinctivly go to grap there hand , while the other is in your pockets beach road famous for it.

 

Had exactly that happen a few years ago. Caught the hand in my pocket and spun away without losing anything. Lucky.

[Mykonos]

Hi all,

Sadly,just back from week in Pats.

My mate had his wallet last week taken on baht bus Beach Road by Mother (doing the distraction) and daughter doing the "pick"

He thought it was a mum "selling" her daughter and in a way it was. It seems they watched him in street taking 10 baht out for taxi so wouldnt be conscious of wallet missing until taxi well gone. One other experience on previous trip was similar but taxi drive stopped, got out and ejected the two "regulars" off the taxi. Big tip for him!!

Had an experience twice in Go GO Bar where service girls unbuttoned all of my shirt from top to bottom without me noticing AND I WAS SOBER. She could have stolen anything from me and I wouldn't have known.

Good investment is wallet with chain to belt!! Happy hunting and be aware

Remember how many times would 1 x 1000 baht go missing from our wallets and not notice ie if they don't take it all we don't notice $40.00 going missing.

PS anyone not going to Thailand due to the problems in BNK stop worrying go go go

 

 

... Can't be sure but i had that feeling twice in previous trips...

[rtpman]

wow, thanks for all the information posted here. I will be more careful when I come to Pattaya.

[Daveo]

Good warning and I think you more than others should put it down to experience, personally I am always aware of where my valuables are and never have them in an open pocket where I cannot notice someone being able to get into it without seeing.

[RandyJohnson]

ditch the wallet.

spread the nights cash around.

mainly in front pockets...