September 1st, 2007, 14:58
Chatuchak tops robbery table, MBK Centre the next most popular venue for thieves, say Tourist Police
The Chatuchak Weekend Market is where foreign visitors to Bangkok suffer the most thefts, according to the Tourist Police, who during the first eight months of the year received reports of 280 robbery cases throughout the metropolitan area.
Eighty-five cases were filed by tourists who visited the weekend market and reported that their bags or valuable objects had been stolen.
Seventy-six cases involved thefts at shopping malls and department stores, with MBK Centre being the most popular venue for thieves. Transport terminals and bus stations reported 50 cases, while 46 cases were reported at Pratunam Market and commercial nightlife areas on Silom Road.
The remaining cases were reported from tourists who visited China Town (11 cases), Sukhumvit Road (seven) and Suan Lum Night Bazaar (five).
Altogether, only five suspects have been arrested. Most of them are from neighbouring countries, according to Tourist Police commander Chuchart Suwannakom.
He added that the figures had been reported to Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani on Wednesday.
Chuchart said the Tourist Police were working with police stations throughout the metropolitan area to help the victims. "The police and related agencies are warning tourists in three main languages - English, Chinese and Japanese - in particular at Chatuchak Weekend Market, in order to solve the problems," he said.
Suvit said the ministry was trying to take better care of tourists while trying to resolve the problems.
The ministry is also working more closely with agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to provide information to visitors. The minister said it was not only local people turning to crime, but also many alien workers living in Thailand.
To solve the problem, the ministry has assigned the Tourist Assistance Centre - the unit assigned specifically to help tourists - to pay more attention to the problem.
"The ministry will give tourists more confidence while they are here," said Suvit.
The number of tourists will increase during the high season, so the authorities must be more alert to the issue, he added.
Source: The Nation, Sept 01, 2007
The Chatuchak Weekend Market is where foreign visitors to Bangkok suffer the most thefts, according to the Tourist Police, who during the first eight months of the year received reports of 280 robbery cases throughout the metropolitan area.
Eighty-five cases were filed by tourists who visited the weekend market and reported that their bags or valuable objects had been stolen.
Seventy-six cases involved thefts at shopping malls and department stores, with MBK Centre being the most popular venue for thieves. Transport terminals and bus stations reported 50 cases, while 46 cases were reported at Pratunam Market and commercial nightlife areas on Silom Road.
The remaining cases were reported from tourists who visited China Town (11 cases), Sukhumvit Road (seven) and Suan Lum Night Bazaar (five).
Altogether, only five suspects have been arrested. Most of them are from neighbouring countries, according to Tourist Police commander Chuchart Suwannakom.
He added that the figures had been reported to Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani on Wednesday.
Chuchart said the Tourist Police were working with police stations throughout the metropolitan area to help the victims. "The police and related agencies are warning tourists in three main languages - English, Chinese and Japanese - in particular at Chatuchak Weekend Market, in order to solve the problems," he said.
Suvit said the ministry was trying to take better care of tourists while trying to resolve the problems.
The ministry is also working more closely with agencies, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to provide information to visitors. The minister said it was not only local people turning to crime, but also many alien workers living in Thailand.
To solve the problem, the ministry has assigned the Tourist Assistance Centre - the unit assigned specifically to help tourists - to pay more attention to the problem.
"The ministry will give tourists more confidence while they are here," said Suvit.
The number of tourists will increase during the high season, so the authorities must be more alert to the issue, he added.
Source: The Nation, Sept 01, 2007