Anyone reside in Chaing Mai?

[BonTong]

What's a "Red Box"?

The "Red Box" is a metal box that looks like a typical Thai mailbox, that the police affix to the front of your property. It contains a note book that the passing patrol signs, with the time of visit once or twice a day. Cost typically 500-1000 Bt per month. If you don't have one, the Police will likely visit offering the service. Asked nicely they might even fulfill your leather fetish: TIT afterall.

For me, the value of the service is not so much the Police visits/security themselves, but having a local contact to call when needed (e.g. like the night a gun fight broke out outside the front gate... long true story but a bit off topic, so much for quiet and peaceful Chiang Mai). Over the years, some of the "red box" BIB have become good friends and engaged in the social circle. Always useful in Thailand.

[Nirish guy]

The "Red Box" is a metal box that looks like a typical Thai mailbox, that the police affix to the front of your property. It contains a note book that the passing patrol signs, with the time of visit once or twice a day.

So perhaps I'm being stupid here but is the quoted intended purpose of the box to reassure the farang that the police are looking after them well - OR - to reassure the Thai government and locals that the police are carefully keeping an eye on those pesky Farang and making sure they're not getting up to anything they shouldn't ( or at least that they're not getting fined or tea money'd for ?) - or maybe it's both ??

But what's the stated aim given when the "service" is sold to you ( I'm assuming from reading the above that it's compulsory ? )

[BonTong]

But what's the stated aim given when the "service" is sold to you ( I'm assuming from reading the above that it's compulsory ? )

Firstly, it's mainly Thai's who have "Red Boxes", so its not really intended to monitor Farangs. The face value benefits are: i) That the Police keep an eye on your property, ii)Sends a message to local robbers and thieves that you are "protected", and to neighbours that you are one of the good guys who support the Police.

As per previous post, in my opinion, it is the less obvious benefits that make it worthwhile.

It is not compulsory, I know plenty of cynical farangs and economical Thai's who've declined the service. Of course, it's usually the same farang who complain about lack of Police response when they get burgled.

[Nirish guy]

AAhhh ok, I get it now, thank you for the answer in reply.