Is there an increase in property crime in Udon?

[parrot]

I scan/read a variety of websites (Thai) with news on the local area. It's hard to say what's what in the way of crime (or accidents) as some are reported, others aren't. I certainly don't get any sense from what I read that there is more crime, especially regarding home thefts. There was a number of teacher related home thefts in the area behind Wattana Hospital a while back. Most of the big heists are homes with safes (not so safe) as it seems today's home robber isn't interested in trying to pawn a 50" flatscreen.
As for the economy and crime.....while there are gobbles of ill-planned coffee shops and mom-pop restaurants that have failed, I chalk that up to lack of business sense, not a slowing economy. The more popular places, even the more expensive places, seem to be doing pretty well. I've often wondered how Starbucks stays in business, even in Central. But yesterday, Saturday, they had a full house of customers.

[kopkei]

the best way to avoid any burglary is to keep low profile , many thais lady's whom become falang lady forget where they come from and think by marrying a falang they get more smart and rich and are better than any one else ,so best way to to do is show off and come out loaded with as many bath of gold on your body and your louis vuitton handbag and wallet on fe the local market and showing off how rich you are ...(but not really smarter) ,if you know what i mean ,luckily my wife is still the same person as the first moment i have met here 21 years ago , and no one even suspect she is mia falang ...sometimes the reason for burglary is self inflicted ...so better to be humble than show off in los.... because most of the times it is your own behavior that attracts thieves

[JR]

True enough, Kopkei, but that should not prevent you from taking some steps to protect your property and yourself. A difficult-to-climb wall to avert the instant-thief is good and possibly the best, a couple of big dogs as most thais are afraid of them.

[ytrewq]

Best protection is common [explative] sense.

Security is a supplement. The best security idea I encountered in my travels was layered perimeter protection consisting of (from road side to property):

1. Low barbed wire fence (3-4 strands) up to 1.2 m)
2. Prickly and/or thick flowering vegetation
3. Low wall with real or decorative spikes atop

Optionally hiding razor wire within the vegetation works too for higher crime areas.

I think it is bonkers to build a high wall as any determined human can climb any wall. Once over, the wall provides cover for burglars. A low wall provides much better deterrence value. CCTV cameras everywhere tell burglars there is something inside worthy of "protection" with expensive CCTV cameras. Those are easily bypassed or disabled. As an owner, you get to watch from afar or replay the theft over and over. Pointless, usually. Dogs, if well trained or very noisy are good to have, but if not well-trained, 70 baht dog meat or a roadside rotisserie chicken puts them out of commission.

All those ideas make owners feel good, but do nothing to deter motivated burglars. Things that do deter motivated burglars:

1. Lights
2. Human sounds (TV, radio, laughing, etc.)
3. Layered perimeter security (see above)
4. Open, visible spaces
5. Strong bars on windows and steel doors with deadbolt locks

[Udon Map]

You can't, of course, make your house burglar-proof. To me, the point of the system is to make your house sufficiently unattractive so that the burglar(s) will move on to the next house, where it's easier to get in. Lots of ways to do this, including dogs, fences, cameras, etc.

[Jackie Jack]

I think you just should take care whereever you live, be careful and don't attract attention to your property / laptop/ phone/ ipad etc