Big trouble in Thailand???

Post by **Hammerheads** » April 7, 2015, 8:17 pm

We've been planning our move for some time, finally fly out end April 2015. My wife is regularly talking with her Thai friends and she is concerned about the heat (well we knew it was gonna be hot anyway) and moreso about the crime, especially towards farangs.

I'm interested to learn of your experiences, to know what security is like in general. If you listen to my wives friends you'd be convinced marauding gangs of Thais armed with Kalashnikovs are walking the streets taking shots at Westerners for 10 baht a pop. I know there is good and bad everywhere, but what's it really like?

Moving to rural outskirts of Udon by the way.

Thanks

Rob

Post by **jackspratt** » April 7, 2015, 8:23 pm

My first question would be - where will you be moving from?

Post by **stattointhailand** » April 7, 2015, 8:24 pm

Suffice to say I feel a hell of a lot safer in Udon NOW than I did in England OVER 10 YEARS AGO.

Post by **747man** » April 7, 2015, 8:41 pm

stattointhailand wrote:Suffice to say I feel a hell of a lot safer in Udon NOW than I did in England OVER 10 YEARS AGO.

Me Too, Statts....

Post by **Macca** » April 7, 2015, 9:01 pm

I've lived in Bangkok, Pattaya, on Koh Chang and now in the Udon countryside.
In my 8 years or so I can honestly not recall being involved in or seeing any incident of trouble other than between drunken tourists.
My wife, it seems a Thai thing, will forever warn me of potential dangers in certain areas but i have no doubt these are well over exaggerated and her just being caring / over protective.

I've always said about the Thais they are reactive if you smile they will return a bigger smile.
If you shout or show aggression they will react accordingly

Post by **kicktostart** » April 7, 2015, 9:31 pm

I live outside Udon. If you are friendly then they are the same.

Post by **waanjai** » April 8, 2015, 1:21 am

Hammerheads wrote: If you listen to my wives friends you'd be convinced marauding gangs of Thais armed with Kalashnikovs are walking the streets taking shots at Westerners for 10 baht a pop.

Do You know the real reasons why wife does not want to return to Thailand?

Post by **bignote1** » April 8, 2015, 2:32 am

stattointhailand wrote:Suffice to say I feel a hell of a lot safer in Udon NOW than I did in England OVER 10 YEARS AGO.

Where did you live in England?
I have lived in the UK for 40 years and have never ever felt threatened.
If you live in a sewer you are always going to be troubled with rats no matter what country you live in.

Post by **Khun Paul** » April 8, 2015, 3:20 am

Oh dear Rob, it would seem that your wives friends are reporting what they hear not what is fact. True there have been one or two instances in Thailand where certain farangs have had problems and one or two deaths, mainly on one particular island which made international news. BUT in all honesty and as an ex-copper, I can honestly say that crime here is certainly far lower than in the UK even amongst Thais let alone Foreigners. In the main most of the foreigners that get involved in crime are either victims due to their own stupidity or a very low percentage seen as a good mark for ' ne'er do wells ' who seek some gratification by hitting on a farang.

My personal opinion for what it is worth is that Thais commit far more horrendous offences against each other for stupid and daft reasons.,it does not bear even trying to ascertain why it just happens.

Move here and be happy apart from the heat on occasions and above all think , there is no logic in Thai thought processes, so you need to be on the ball, after 12 years I am happier here than in the UK security and violence wise that is for sure and I was a Police offcier. !!

Post by **maaka** » April 8, 2015, 7:34 am

its not all roses and happy smiling locals, and its more than just one or two deaths on islands as mentioned above. Like my old gang mates use to say, ' when you fella's are tucked up nicely in bed, we come out to play '..my advice, Just be street wise, and dont go poking your nose in, or flashing your mulla about...I am happy as Larry as the only honky in the one horse village I am in..I know now who's trouble, so steer clear, and what not to get involved in, particularly when the army fire afew rounds out on the street in front of us to quell the street fighting between two rival teenage gangs.. stuff is happening under the surface, and not even thai"s talk openly about it for fear of bringing down a storm..however, having said all that, keep your nose clean, smile like Donny Osmond, and you should get thru

Post by **noosard** » April 8, 2015, 8:30 am

Thought you had come in December
This month is the hottest month of the year
I think you start getting use to the hot after a few years
You say you live out in the sticks
Chiang Ping is nearly in town
But saftey wise Thailand and Udon is very safe with the exception of the roads

Post by **stattointhailand** » April 8, 2015, 4:23 pm

bignote1 wrote:
stattointhailand wrote:Suffice to say I feel a hell of a lot safer in Udon NOW than I did in England OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
Where did you live in England?
I have lived in the UK for 40 years and have never ever felt threatened.
If you live in a sewer you are always going to be troubled with rats no matter what country you live in.

Blimey you really must have lived a shelterred life ....... never travelled on the bus or tube late at night, never been to a concert/big sporting event etc

As it happens I lived most of my UK life in the leafy suburbs of London and the rest in the Garden of England (Kent), neither of which I have ever heard of being referred to as a "sewer", but perhaps if I HAD lived in a sewer I would have felt much much safer not being threatened by those around me :-"

Post by **mathusalah80** » April 8, 2015, 5:17 pm

[quote="stattointhailand.......,if I HAD lived in a sewer I would have felt much much safer not being threatened by those around me :-"[/quote]

Statts; a man of never ending talents.

From a pool playing hotshot, to a football pundit, to a comedian, and now a Philosopher :-" =D>; but with a profundity of thought & expression likely to be wasted on many!

Post by **MrFixer** » April 8, 2015, 8:35 pm

England is very safe by international standards. Having lived there over 50 years and now having a city centre apartment I have yet to sUffer any violence or robbery. Had a car radio stolen once and a car scratched but that's about it.
I lived in the US for a while and that was genuinely scary at times.
A lot of crime in Thailand doesn't get reported. A lady was found murdered near my girlfriend village. It never made the newspapers or tv. The police didn't really investigate. I was told she was from a poor family and they couldn't get the police to take the case seriously.

Post by **wazza** » April 9, 2015, 9:15 am

Someone here ages ago posted about expats being targeted in breakins etc and how they are singled out etc. But no stats ever came out to support it.

A good back up is to have some insurance to cover any loss perhaps.

Take pictures of any workers / delivery cars to your house, word can spread this way also.

Post by **novo58** » April 9, 2015, 1:14 pm

I have lived in Udon Thani now for 18mths. Now , I admit that I dont spend any time in Farang bars, Nutty Park etc,
But the ONLY issue I have had in that time is getting used to driving the motorbike on the roads. Need 360 degree eyes.

Where I live , just outside ring road on northern side................the locals have gotten used to me and my morning walks. Some say hello, gday or sawadee when they see me.

I keep pretty much to my self, but a big smile usually helps in all situations.

As has been said above, go looking for trouble and I am sure you will find it. Use common sense and street smarts and you have no issues.

The political situation may ,however, require continual perusal as I feel something may be building behind the scenes.

Post by **FrazeeDK** » April 9, 2015, 2:10 pm

there's always crime everywhere.. But, here in Udon, at least in our area (east side outside the ring road) it is minimal.. Taking normal precautions as noted earlier in the string means you'll likely never have any problems..

Post by **bigsnake** » April 9, 2015, 3:13 pm

Hammerheads wrote:We've been planning our move for some time, finally fly out end April 2015. My wife is regularly talking with her Thai friends and she is concerned about the heat (well we knew it was gonna be hot anyway) and moreso about the crime, especially towards farangs.

I'm interested to learn of your experiences, to know what security is like in general. If you listen to my wives friends you'd be convinced marauding gangs of Thais armed with Kalashnikovs are walking the streets taking shots at Westerners for 10 baht a pop. I know there is good and bad everywhere, but what's it really like?

Moving to rural outskirts of Udon by the way.

Thanks

Rob

Twenty(20) plus year on the ground in Thailand, with wife and family never had a problem, with gangs, thugs, etc, yes bad things do exist as they do everywhere but with a LITTLE Common SENSE one(Expats) can live in Thailand peacefully. No jail house BARS on my WINDOWS no dogs, no armed Guards<>Lucky<>Maybe or just common sense and good neighbors.

Post by **bignote1** » April 9, 2015, 7:53 pm

stattointhailand wrote:
bignote1 wrote:
stattointhailand wrote:Suffice to say I feel a hell of a lot safer in Udon NOW than I did in England OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
Where did you live in England?
I have lived in the UK for 40 years and have never ever felt threatened.
If you live in a sewer you are always going to be troubled with rats no matter what country you live in.
Blimey you really must have lived a shelterred life ....... never travelled on the bus or tube late at night, never been to a concert/big sporting event etc

As it happens I lived most of my UK life in the leafy suburbs of London and the rest in the Garden of England (Kent), neither of which I have ever heard of being referred to as a "sewer", but perhaps if I HAD lived in a sewer I would have felt much much safer not being threatened by those around me :-"

Yes I have caught late night buses and tubes and never felt threatened but have read about incidents in the Press so of course they do happen but let me set you straight.....all of London Transport currently has 9 crimes (spectrum crimes so the majority are likely to be non violent) per million journeys.
Hardly an epidemic is it?

Post by **wazza** » April 9, 2015, 8:01 pm

Perhaps because of CCTV and the potential crims know its monitored etc ?

Im not a crimiologist just my thoughts but a deterent factor could play a part ????