Baht Bus Pickpockets

[DrPat]

Myself and my Thai GF picked up a songthaew on Second Road yesterday at about 3:30pm. At Pattaya Klang the songthaew pickup up a ladyboy along with three other, fattish (real) females. All of them were carrying bags of one description or another. Although there was plenty of space the LB stood on the footplate right next to where I was sitting and one of the females sat alongside my GF. The LB was clutching a large handbag / shopping bag which kept on bumping into me so I moved slightly further along the seat. The LB immediately forced his way into the small gap I had made, handbag still bumping. At this stage let me add that I had already worked out what was going on and I had gone into lock-down mode re my valuables. I stared at the LB and mouthed some suitable words to let him know I was on to him, whilst at the same time covering my GFs handbag. Another Asian (but not Thai) couple got on and the team continued to unnecessarily swap seats, the LB moving to sit next to the Asian man.

Fortunately the gang hit the bell (at Big C) just before our stop and I let them get off before we did. The songthaew driver told us that the gang had been riding up and down all day.

Interestingly, my Thai GF had no clue as to what was going on, but I later explained to her how the thieves operate and to be VERY careful in such circumstances.

In 14 years of visiting Pattaya this is probably only about the third time I've come across one of these pickpocketing gangs, but BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

[jacko]

Yes I have seen them a few times and I got a mouthful when I warned another passenger.

Did you happen to notice whether they paid the baht bus driver when they got off?

 

If the driver knew what was going on why didn't he call the police?

[atlas2]

I had the same experience a few years ago.......Thanks to the warning on here and elsewhere I was more alert that I would otherwise have been. Although surrounded I just put my left hand on my iPhone and my right on my wallet and kept them there.....smiling smugly. They smiled back and got off.

Edited July 4, 2015 by atlas2

[Gary]

I was in a baht bus on 2nd road and a homosexual and his boy toy got on. We probably only went a couple hundred meters when a motorcycle pulled close to the side of the baht bus. The passenger on the motorcycle reached out and grabbed the gold chain from the homosexual's neck. Lots of squealing from the boy toy and the guy but it was far too late.

[DrPat]

...Did you happen to notice whether they paid the baht bus driver when they got off?

 

If the driver knew what was going on why didn't he call the police?

I THINK they paid, but can't be sure. The driver seemed to be straight, telling us that he knew what they were up to.

 

I guess the police would only be interested if something was actually stolen.

[teelack]

I had a similar experience and when I twigged I got the driver onto it and he in turn got other drivers involved. The result was that I got all my money back.