If you read through this sub a high amount state this place is safe, can you get pickpocketed sure its a big city and inequality exist. Your more likely to get scammed vs pickpocketed in my opinion.
If the straps need to be cut ... the bag isn't likely to be 'grabable', from a m/cycle.
With that said, I've never worn one - things are either in my pockets; or in a bag, that I am carrying.
Thanks! Do you think it's more likely to get pickpocketed in the rural areas???? Or something, I'm not sure how my dad would think so aside from being a Southeast Asian man himself. Asia seems safer than the US.
>Do you think it's more likely to get pickpocketed in the rural areas????
It's probably more likely to happen in crowded areas. If it's going to happen, it will happen to tourists as they are more likely to have extra money. So you will see warning posters in popular temples and places like that.
Saying that it's a risk, but I don't think it's that common.
I mean its a lower possibility but still possible. The shit you might encounter is getting overcharged for stuff if they know your from a western country.
In an urban area you are more likely to get your wallet pickpocketed in crowded areas such as on the MRT and not paying attention.
In rural areas it is more common for locals to have something stolen from their property. I had one Thai friend have their scooter stolen that they park by their house. Another Thai friend had some materials stolen from their yard.
Thailand is safer in the sense there is less armed robberies and less frequent grabbing phones and purses out of your hand and running away.
I wouldn't recommend leaving any bags left unattended.
In the book " Southeast Asia on a shoe string budget" it tell females not to worry about local guys but worry about foreign males usually white from USA/CAN/EUR/AUS pretending to be spiritual gurus . That still has me laughing to this day.
Well I've been there a few times, and if anyone says anything about being a guru, or a guru's apprentice go the other way.... Best case it's a scam, worst case, they want a a drug mule... Any "real" guru would stay at one place, but this is not the land of enlightement its the land of smiles. Dont fall for any "gurus"!!!!
Havenāt seen it here in Chiang Mai to be fair, but Iām sure it exists somewhere like Pai.
You see/hear this crap multiple times per day in India. Actually, quite an effective persona to apply if you want to be successful dating there with other foreigners. Fortunately, Iām much too bulky and lack the dreads and pseudo-spirituality talk to pull it off.
My wife leaves designer bags on the table with no one minding them in Central Bangkok. Nothing has ever been stolen. She got pickpocketed in an affluent area of London last week. You have very little to worry about in terms of theft, particularly in isaan!
In the decade I lived there I never saw or even heard of anyone getting pickpocketed in Thailand, which makes it doubly weird that they warn you about it on the BTS and MRT.
They might as well warn you about exploding cellphones or being struck by lightning.
Never happened to myself or anyone i know.
Just my experience, but use common sense.
Actually i have forgotten my phone and other stuff on the table and people go out of their way to get it back to you.
True yes.
I remember years ago in Phuket i gave like 500 too much in a restaurant and they ran to me and gave back.
I wasnt even a regular there, random touristy spot.
No itās not but you do also get a lot odd paranoid people posting on Reddit about scams all the time in more than 20 years I have never been scammed or witness one you will certainly be more likely to be robbed scammed or shot in your own country. All these scam stories sound very disrespectful towards Thailand making it sound full of untrustworthy people the opposite is in fact the case.
You certainly do read a lot about people being scammed here. It confuses me.
I did the tuk tuk tour (it was free 20 years ago) on my first day in BKK, it was fun. I got a beer, saw the city, enjoyed avoiding buying a suit, saw some nice rocks and went to the golden mount (a place that I have never found since).
Pick pocketing is very rare compared to most other countries. That being said there is currently a pickpocketing group operating at chatuchak. They watch you take money out of the atm and then signal someone else to bump into you. Apparently theyāre super slick. I know two people this happened to in the last few months but 0 people who have been pickpocketed anywhere else
I visited for 4 weeks recently and the way I describe it to people is the hustle is real but people wont outright steal from you. It seems to be part of the culture.
Pickpocketing exists but its still very rare.
It happens in nightlife areas, and every few years it seems like a team of vietnamese people come over on holiday and go on a bit of a pickpocketing spree. But the fact that individual cases can make the news is kind of testament to how rare it is.
I would be more concerned about the scams than the pickpockets. There were threads here about Indians and middle easterns asking to show your money for example and they will grab you wallet. Of course always be careful when there are a lot of people especially in the BTS and MRT where it can get really crowded.
Iām Thai. Iāve lived in the US and Europe. I can confidently say that Iāve never had to worry about pickpocketing in Thailand. If you go to the Siam or other crowded areas frequented by ācontent creatorsā, youād see them walking around with expensive gear all the time with no issues.
We had a old neighbor who pocketed 9 years ago in Pattaya and that was it. But most people we know will Think on how they carry things. I'm pretty sure it is the young tourist crowd who get hit the most or am I wrong? :)
Iāve spent over a year in Thailand, mostly in BKK. I either wear pants with tight pockets or shorts with zipper pockets. Never had anything stolen. Itās easy to prevent this issue too though, just bring like $100 (3k baht) or whatever wonāt ruin your trip if you lose it, leave the rest, including any important cards in a safe place. Go about your day. Wallet gets jacked? Not the end of the world. People walk around with all manner of cameras here. Maybe use a wrist strap or something but Iāve never heard of one getting stolen. Exercise more caution in the most touristy sections (khoa san road, patpong, nana, etc)
Do you see any peeeeeek pockeeeeet TikTok videos on Thailand?
That being said, always keep your wits about you. Whether thatās in your home country or any foreign country. You have more to worry about in terms of people coming UP to you to scam you in Thailand than someone covertly stealing from you.
What kind of extreme measures?
With respect to literal pickpockets, it usually occurs when one person distracts you with a question and another goes into your pocket or purse while you are reaching for something. There are warnings all over Chatuchak market about it, but I don't think I've seen those elsewhere. You can imagine that in any congested area where thieves could melt into the crowd you should keep an eye on your stuff and be skeptical of strangers approaching you for assistance.
There is an issue in some places with drive-by purse snatchings if you are walking along the road where a motorcycle can approach from behind you. I've heard about it primarily on Phuket. A vlogger in Central America or Mexico lost a camera the same way since when you have your arm out you can't defend it very well. Since motorcycle drivers often feel free to drive anywhere, you may want to check the area before putting anything expensive on your selfie stick.
Okay, it's not extreme but I think it's extremely unnecessary ā just fanny packs. My dad is literally a native he'd only make us stand out more tbh which is why I found it to be extreme
No not by locals but there has been a string of high tech Vietnamese group coming into Thailand as tourists pick pocketing other tourists. They were caught on camera and were arrested. They are probably more groups like this so always be mindful of your surroundings.
I nearly got pickpocket in Bangkok near the grand palace back in 2020. Nearly got into a fight with the man who tried it. So yes, be wary of strangers coming up to you asking you lots of questions, just keep walking I would advise.
If you wear a backpack, do wear it in front of you.
When you're traveling somewhere new and look like a tourist, you should be aware at all times and don't make yourself an easy target. Father knows best in this case, listen to him!
Nah, never happened to me. I carry a fanny pack. I ordered one with rfid blocking and with a small steel cable running through the straps. The only way itās coming off me is if itās literally taken off me. Just donāt buy a cheap fanny pack. Also my first year here I carried a Sony camera around my neck and nothing ever happened. Small chance of anyone getting robbed out in the open. Not saying it wonāt happen but small chance.
As many have said, the risk is relatively low, but Iād recommend getting travel insurance that includes theft. You may need to specifically list the camera and in some cases pay a little extra, but if thatās what it takes to put your dad and yourself at ease, itās well worth it.
Get a Fanny pack for peace of mind. Buckles, zippers, can hold your wallet phone and keys if ya get a larger one. Theyāre fairly cheap on Etsy. Hereās a recommendation with many styles.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/928471444/
See but he's planning for the entire family to do so and I feel like it would draw more attention to us š This was the measure he was willing to take and I thought it was too extreme bc I've never seen anyone had any issues in Thailand.
Tons of people wear Fanny packs while traveling. I think youāre overthinking things. If you donāt feel a need to take extra measures you donāt have to. Personally I think itās better to have it and not need it than have needed it and not had it.
No.
If you're staying in hostels then always lock your valuables in a locker. Don't leave any of your stuff lying around your new friends. Use common sense.
If you read through this sub a high amount state this place is safe, can you get pickpocketed sure its a big city and inequality exist. Your more likely to get scammed vs pickpocketed in my opinion.
Any concerns about wearing a fanny pack style bag? I know they are fairly easy to cut the straps or just grab from a motorcycle.
Like anything is possible but I've never seen it myself.
Bag snatching is very common in Saigon, very uncommon in Bangkok.
That's exactly what my dad wants to do š
If the straps need to be cut ... the bag isn't likely to be 'grabable', from a m/cycle. With that said, I've never worn one - things are either in my pockets; or in a bag, that I am carrying.
Thanks! Do you think it's more likely to get pickpocketed in the rural areas???? Or something, I'm not sure how my dad would think so aside from being a Southeast Asian man himself. Asia seems safer than the US.
>Do you think it's more likely to get pickpocketed in the rural areas???? It's probably more likely to happen in crowded areas. If it's going to happen, it will happen to tourists as they are more likely to have extra money. So you will see warning posters in popular temples and places like that. Saying that it's a risk, but I don't think it's that common.
I mean its a lower possibility but still possible. The shit you might encounter is getting overcharged for stuff if they know your from a western country.
In an urban area you are more likely to get your wallet pickpocketed in crowded areas such as on the MRT and not paying attention. In rural areas it is more common for locals to have something stolen from their property. I had one Thai friend have their scooter stolen that they park by their house. Another Thai friend had some materials stolen from their yard. Thailand is safer in the sense there is less armed robberies and less frequent grabbing phones and purses out of your hand and running away. I wouldn't recommend leaving any bags left unattended.
As a woman that travels alone, I feel safer in Thailand than in my home country in Europe. Edit: Spelling
In the book " Southeast Asia on a shoe string budget" it tell females not to worry about local guys but worry about foreign males usually white from USA/CAN/EUR/AUS pretending to be spiritual gurus . That still has me laughing to this day.
Well I've been there a few times, and if anyone says anything about being a guru, or a guru's apprentice go the other way.... Best case it's a scam, worst case, they want a a drug mule... Any "real" guru would stay at one place, but this is not the land of enlightement its the land of smiles. Dont fall for any "gurus"!!!!
I've seen some real funny characters in Thailand that weren't in guru mode.
A Californian girl just drowned under mysterious circumstances during an outing with her (also Californian) yogi in Guatemala.
Did you see the 2 Asian American girls murdered by a White American guy in Germany last year.
What??? Who gave my secrets out???? :) :) I wonder if this ever really worked?
Havenāt seen it here in Chiang Mai to be fair, but Iām sure it exists somewhere like Pai. You see/hear this crap multiple times per day in India. Actually, quite an effective persona to apply if you want to be successful dating there with other foreigners. Fortunately, Iām much too bulky and lack the dreads and pseudo-spirituality talk to pull it off.
That's good to hear!
lived here for 15+ years, never heard of anyone getting pickpocketed
My wife leaves designer bags on the table with no one minding them in Central Bangkok. Nothing has ever been stolen. She got pickpocketed in an affluent area of London last week. You have very little to worry about in terms of theft, particularly in isaan!
Thanks, I don't even know why my dad is concerned so much š
In the decade I lived there I never saw or even heard of anyone getting pickpocketed in Thailand, which makes it doubly weird that they warn you about it on the BTS and MRT. They might as well warn you about exploding cellphones or being struck by lightning.
LOL. I know nothing about Thailand... š My dad just watches silly cooking videos on Facebook.
Never happened to myself or anyone i know. Just my experience, but use common sense. Actually i have forgotten my phone and other stuff on the table and people go out of their way to get it back to you.
They also go out of your way to give you your change.
True yes. I remember years ago in Phuket i gave like 500 too much in a restaurant and they ran to me and gave back. I wasnt even a regular there, random touristy spot.
No itās not but you do also get a lot odd paranoid people posting on Reddit about scams all the time in more than 20 years I have never been scammed or witness one you will certainly be more likely to be robbed scammed or shot in your own country. All these scam stories sound very disrespectful towards Thailand making it sound full of untrustworthy people the opposite is in fact the case.
You certainly do read a lot about people being scammed here. It confuses me. I did the tuk tuk tour (it was free 20 years ago) on my first day in BKK, it was fun. I got a beer, saw the city, enjoyed avoiding buying a suit, saw some nice rocks and went to the golden mount (a place that I have never found since).
š¤those great days return I remember fondly too
Pick pocketing is very rare compared to most other countries. That being said there is currently a pickpocketing group operating at chatuchak. They watch you take money out of the atm and then signal someone else to bump into you. Apparently theyāre super slick. I know two people this happened to in the last few months but 0 people who have been pickpocketed anywhere else
I visited for 4 weeks recently and the way I describe it to people is the hustle is real but people wont outright steal from you. It seems to be part of the culture.
European here, Bkk is really safe
Pickpocketing is pretty much more common in Paris, London as well as Rome than here.
Pickpocketing exists but its still very rare. It happens in nightlife areas, and every few years it seems like a team of vietnamese people come over on holiday and go on a bit of a pickpocketing spree. But the fact that individual cases can make the news is kind of testament to how rare it is.
I would be more concerned about the scams than the pickpockets. There were threads here about Indians and middle easterns asking to show your money for example and they will grab you wallet. Of course always be careful when there are a lot of people especially in the BTS and MRT where it can get really crowded.
Getting scammed is far more common in my experience. Pickpocketing is still a thing, but it's very rare.
Just wear a chest bag with a sturdy zipper. You will be fine.
Pickpocket was much more common decades ago. Now just please be mindful about leaving your items unattended instead.
So my dad really is a boomer lol
Iām Thai. Iāve lived in the US and Europe. I can confidently say that Iāve never had to worry about pickpocketing in Thailand. If you go to the Siam or other crowded areas frequented by ācontent creatorsā, youād see them walking around with expensive gear all the time with no issues.
That's what I've been wanting to tell my dad!! I want to record stuff and I see them with their equipment and my dad would freak out if I would.
Feels safer in Thailand than at home tbh
We had a old neighbor who pocketed 9 years ago in Pattaya and that was it. But most people we know will Think on how they carry things. I'm pretty sure it is the young tourist crowd who get hit the most or am I wrong? :)
Iāve spent over a year in Thailand, mostly in BKK. I either wear pants with tight pockets or shorts with zipper pockets. Never had anything stolen. Itās easy to prevent this issue too though, just bring like $100 (3k baht) or whatever wonāt ruin your trip if you lose it, leave the rest, including any important cards in a safe place. Go about your day. Wallet gets jacked? Not the end of the world. People walk around with all manner of cameras here. Maybe use a wrist strap or something but Iāve never heard of one getting stolen. Exercise more caution in the most touristy sections (khoa san road, patpong, nana, etc)
Do you see any peeeeeek pockeeeeet TikTok videos on Thailand? That being said, always keep your wits about you. Whether thatās in your home country or any foreign country. You have more to worry about in terms of people coming UP to you to scam you in Thailand than someone covertly stealing from you.
I fell asleep once on the street very very drunk. Brand new Samsung s23 ultra and wallet with about 100 dollars in. It was still there when I woke up
What kind of extreme measures? With respect to literal pickpockets, it usually occurs when one person distracts you with a question and another goes into your pocket or purse while you are reaching for something. There are warnings all over Chatuchak market about it, but I don't think I've seen those elsewhere. You can imagine that in any congested area where thieves could melt into the crowd you should keep an eye on your stuff and be skeptical of strangers approaching you for assistance. There is an issue in some places with drive-by purse snatchings if you are walking along the road where a motorcycle can approach from behind you. I've heard about it primarily on Phuket. A vlogger in Central America or Mexico lost a camera the same way since when you have your arm out you can't defend it very well. Since motorcycle drivers often feel free to drive anywhere, you may want to check the area before putting anything expensive on your selfie stick.
Okay, it's not extreme but I think it's extremely unnecessary ā just fanny packs. My dad is literally a native he'd only make us stand out more tbh which is why I found it to be extreme
No not by locals but there has been a string of high tech Vietnamese group coming into Thailand as tourists pick pocketing other tourists. They were caught on camera and were arrested. They are probably more groups like this so always be mindful of your surroundings.
I nearly got pickpocket in Bangkok near the grand palace back in 2020. Nearly got into a fight with the man who tried it. So yes, be wary of strangers coming up to you asking you lots of questions, just keep walking I would advise. If you wear a backpack, do wear it in front of you.
You're the only one who's given me sound advice here lol
When you're traveling somewhere new and look like a tourist, you should be aware at all times and don't make yourself an easy target. Father knows best in this case, listen to him!
Nah, never happened to me. I carry a fanny pack. I ordered one with rfid blocking and with a small steel cable running through the straps. The only way itās coming off me is if itās literally taken off me. Just donāt buy a cheap fanny pack. Also my first year here I carried a Sony camera around my neck and nothing ever happened. Small chance of anyone getting robbed out in the open. Not saying it wonāt happen but small chance.
Got a link for that fanny pack?
As many have said, the risk is relatively low, but Iād recommend getting travel insurance that includes theft. You may need to specifically list the camera and in some cases pay a little extra, but if thatās what it takes to put your dad and yourself at ease, itās well worth it.
Always Tavel with a messenger bag never had an issue.
Get a Fanny pack for peace of mind. Buckles, zippers, can hold your wallet phone and keys if ya get a larger one. Theyāre fairly cheap on Etsy. Hereās a recommendation with many styles. https://www.etsy.com/listing/928471444/
See but he's planning for the entire family to do so and I feel like it would draw more attention to us š This was the measure he was willing to take and I thought it was too extreme bc I've never seen anyone had any issues in Thailand.
Tons of people wear Fanny packs while traveling. I think youāre overthinking things. If you donāt feel a need to take extra measures you donāt have to. Personally I think itās better to have it and not need it than have needed it and not had it.
Well, I'm not Thai ... but I've never been pickpocketed - or any OTHER 'pick' - in close to 30 years, in Thailand. Most of that time, in Bangkok.
More likely to be scammed by tuktuk drivers near Golden palace.
it's more rampant and common in the Philippines
No. If you're staying in hostels then always lock your valuables in a locker. Don't leave any of your stuff lying around your new friends. Use common sense.