Thefts and lost property at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport in Thailand

Foreign thieves target travellers Police urge passengers to be careful with baggage after surge inthefts Police yesterday warned passengers at Suvarnab-humi Airport not to leave their baggage unattended as a motley group of thieves comprising mainly foreigners have been targeting travellers.There have been Filipinos, Indonesians, Chinese, Laotians and Peruvians caught stealing at the airport, police said. The tourist-service unit at the airport received 415 theft reports from tourists since the airport began full commercial services in late
September. Reported thefts at Suvarnabhumi had climbed from just nine inSeptember to 54 in October, 72 in November, 101 in December and 114 in January.Of these, 152 concerned items that went missing at the airport, 152 were items lost on board flights and 101 involved possessions goingmissing outside the terminal buildings. "Keep an eye on your belongings and avoid putting cash or credit cards in your baggage," Lt-Colonel Thammawat Hirunyalekha of the airport's tourist centre said yesterday.He said police recently arrested a Laotian who had confessed that he would spend nights inside the terminal watching out for unattended bags. "When we searched his Bangkok apartment, we found many travellers' bags, digital cameras and notebook computers," Thammawat said. There were Filipino, Indonesian, Chinese and Peruvian thieves in the airport too, Thammawat said. He said Chinese thieves usually pick-pocketed while criminals of other nationality tended to mingle with crowds waiting to check in and snatched unguarded bags. "These thieves usually target Japanese tourists because they often keep cash and credit cards in their unattended bags," Thammawat said. He said the Chinese thieves appeared to work as a gang because when they were caught, they would be bailed fast. "We sometimes arrest people twice at the airport after they have sneaked back to China and changed their names before returning," he said. Lt-Colonel Pakapong Sai-ubon, of the Police Immigration Bureau, said some criminals flew into the airport purely to steal valuables from other passengers. "They usually fly from trading cities like Hong Kong and grab the bags of their targets," he said. Pol Lt-Colonel Satit Prom-utai of the Tourism Division hoped the
Immigration Bureau would blacklist foreign thieves caught at the airport. "We will ask the Immigration Bureau to blacklist them," he said. According to passenger complaints, some items were also stolen from luggage after it had been checked in. Complaints have become less frequent, however, since the Airports of Thailand stepped up safety measures along the baggage-belt zones. Suvarnabhumi Airport director Serirat Prasutanont said the airport was working closely with police in a bid to ensure safety. "We will add more security cameras," he said.

There are many touts around the doors of the airport and do not use them as they are touts and unlicensed. Use the proper taxis and get a chit from the tables outside the departure lounge. The cost into Bangkok is now 400 baht plus 50 baht extra for the drivers. If going out to the airport from Bangkok many taxis will not use the meter and charge you 400 baht standard fee. Tell them Ok if they pay the tolls and this should be Ok for you but if you use them and don't know Bangkok you could find yourself having a long ride. If they want more money for luggage don't pay --just ignore. Make sure the meter is on? you pay the tolls normally unless you have agreed before departure that the taxi driver pays.

The authorities turn a blind eye to all the Thais hanging around the entrance ways trying to rip off foreigners. This month Police arrested a couple --Thai lady with foreign Beirut Arab man who paid to fly some place then went around to the arrival carousel and stole foreigners bags while in the process or changed their bags for others as they came onto the conveyor belt. They had been doing this for some time until finally caught. Also mAY 2008 arrests of baggage staff also happened so if you lose your bags report it and keep your eye open for touts. This is an ongoing problem so never keep your valuables even in the left luggage as staff have been known to steal from your bags. Watch out if accosted by so called security poeple wanting to search you. They work in 2s or 3s & if they cannot show ID then make a loud fuss & seek help at any Airport desk. Even those in uniforms have been found to be fake.

As at September 2009 the baggage handlers will have uniforms with no pockets and the authorities have more cameras but it is hard tovet ones bags on the caraousel if youre late theu the immigration process. But we understand they are getting better in view of the bad publicity.

1/. Taxi touts. Thais in yellow shirts saying they have taxis by the doors and outside. They inflate the price from 400 to 800baht+. Only use the meter cabs and you will find a desk to book. Keep the main ticket & try to remember the taxi number on your rear inside door

2/. People pretending to be security guards who pat your body down while another searches your carry-on luggage? An excuse to take your bags?

3/. Luggage being stolen on the carousels & staff pilfering. This is an ongoing problem

4/. Left luggage keep no valuables in your suitcases & lock

5/. TAT guides even if they have tags showing be wary. Do not book Tourism trips here

6/. If accosted and the person does not go away then head for the nearest Police or Tourist Police office

7/. Many taxis heading to the airport will not use their meters. This is because they cannot pick up a returning fare! They will ask for 400-450 baht. Tell them OK if they pay tollways?

8/. DO NOT ACCEPT rides from people offering you cheap fares. Some years ago at Don Muang an Egyptian so called taxi driver mugged & killed tourists who accepted rides into town and dropped body parts in drains. Be warned

9/. The old saying --- if they speak good English be on alert

10/. Watch out also for foreign touts & Chinese pick pockets. Those waiting for friends to arrive touts and pick pockets are also waiting

11/. Please don't leave cameras, laptops etc in your main bags. Carry all on your carry bag.

12/. Carry spare cash and copy of your passport in a separate part of you.

13/. When buying duty FREE goods check receipt for what you buy--check your buys before you leave the counter -- if not sure DON'T buy. King Power monopolize the shops leases say they have no control on frauds (so they say??) where purchasers have been conned out of many $$$$ when shops say they never paid for the goods so even credit cards & gifts given by staff are suspect--double check after you buy at the counter. People, whether guilty or not, are being shaken down for large sums of money after being arrested by King Power security at Bangkok airport. The security notify noone at the airport let alone the Tourist Police and take them to an outside Police station--where extortion prevails. A clear accusation says statements are changed in the police station to suite the result yet theres a Tourist Police office in the airport. The crazy thing about this is these shops still operate and King Power do nothing about it--its their staff too??? Surely with the money they make they could help would be foreigners but no and the TAT (Tourism Dept) is not much help either. Ok some do shoplift but there are genuine cases to consider & the TAT & Govt & King Power could put in place what to do once someone is accused of shoplifting??? It is also easy to doctor a video after the fact, like 2 months later------ read on??.

Here is a link issued by King Power that alledgedly shows the lady pocketing a wallet but was not produced until 2 months after. Careful examination one may see how a video may have been changed as its very easy to do to suit the situation after the fact? http://www.kingpower.com/2009/index.php#

Burundanga is a type of chloroform and is widely used by kratoys and scammers to make one sleep then they rob you. Such a drug can be placed in a drink, an aircon of a taxi car (using a napkin) or on the breasts of a Thai girl or boy or even on a Personal Greeting card given to an unwary forerigner or Thai as has happened. Once you feel symtoms of dizziness or fainting then chances are something has been doctored. It has happened in Thailand and still being used as at Sept 2009 so if you get faint make someone aware of your condition & get away from where you are if the person has befriended you may have administered it to you.

1/. 1/. Tourist Police office -- Make sure you sign statement and get copy for your insurance. Ask for Thai Police & if taken to an outside Police station ask for the Tourist Police--do not be intimidated. Keep your Embassy number handy as well.

2/. AOT = http://www2.airportthai.co.th/airportnew/main/directors2.asp

File a complaint here

3/. Write to the Bangkok Post Postbag & The Nation to warn others http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

http://www.bangkokpost.com/

4/. File a complaint to your Embassy. The more you tell the more something will be done about the situation

5/. Use common sense all the time

6/. The economic crises has seen an upsurge in petty crime, ATM muggings and scams so be careful as at 2009.

TRUST NOONE AT THE AIRPORT AND WATCH FOR TOUTS AND THOSE OFFERING TAXIS INSIDE THE AIRPORT. As of August 2009 there are now more touts loitering around the entrance doors and inside.The airport authorities turn a blind eye to it all.