19 replies to this topic

[kendal1972]

i'd echo kliome's thoughts. I see far more people get 'done' down oxford street than i've ever seen in any holiday destination i've experienced so far. like all things it's about common sense, don't draw attention to yourself and there shouldn't be to many problems.

[donnykey]

Since being pick pocketed, I rarely carry a wallet around, however I'm not always thrilled about pulling out a wad of cash in full view of everyone when I need to make a purchase or pay the bill at a bar, etc.

Small notes on the outside . Big notes on the inside of your "wad".
That's the go.

Cheers DK

[Josh69]

Since being pick pocketed, I rarely carry a wallet around

I've also been pick pocketed! Thanks to Jaybee 'cause i had forgotten this event...

I was strolling in WS not far from Linda bar when two young boys (i would say about 7-9 years old) stopped me to sell me a fluorescent necklace, i refused their offer. They tried to convince me, catching my shirt etc and suddenly, one of the two boys slipped his hand in my pocket. Two or three "one hundred banknotes" slipped out of my pocket, and fell on the floor. They ran away. I took my money back.
As i drive a moped in Patts, i always wear a pair of jeans. There are no closeable pockets. I was lucky to have a mess in my pocket (apn, money, condoms...) otherwise it could have been easier to grab the banknotes. I had about 3k in my pocket...

[dixon cox]

I was strolling in WS not far from Linda bar when two young boys (i would say about 7-9 years old) stopped me to sell me a fluorescent necklace, i refused their offer. They tried to convince me, catching my shirt etc and suddenly, one of the two boys slipped his hand in my pocket. Two or three "one hundred banknotes" slipped out of my pocket, and fell on the floor. They ran away. I took my money back.

I've often sat with the lads at Linda Bar and we've observed the small gangs of light-fingered kids selling those glow-necklaces or flowers to passers-by. As they surround and confuse the victims those little hands can be seen to dip pockets quite often.

I do a combination of several methods mentioned so far. I never take out more money than I think I need, certainly never in a wallet and never carry a bank card unless I intend to use it. Money is distributed around the pockets, with the high value notes in harder to reach places even for me, and smaller value notes surround the larger bills. Whenever I buy a pair of shorts or trousers they are graded accordingly dependant on how deep the pockets are, this also helps when buying rounds of drinks too.

The reference to money in my socks is genuine, but only on special occasions, such as early hour's strolls along Beach Road or Soi6, where I deliberately let them feel me up and while they've distracted me their hands are feeling for money in my pockets and I know it, but there is none. Perhaps just a B20 or two or I just have some baht-bus coins in my pockets so they think they get something and it's worth it.

The fun-fund remains covertly secreted down my socks, so if and when it is needed I can extract it casually as I climb the stairs behind the target totty on my way up to the ST room, or pretend to do up my shoe-laces to release it. B500 left sock, B100 right sock, always.

About 5 years ago I had B3k lifted from a zipped pocket in my cargo pants while chatting to Mimi at the Golden Bar at the Nana Hotel after hours, by a young flower-seller girl, she distracted us/me with her flowers, she even left the whole bunch behind when she legged it.

I was lucky it was only money, but Mimi wasn't over the moon as it meant I went home alone.

Once bitten, twice shy.

I once remember hearing that if found with money in my socks it would upset the Thais, as it would be considered rude and extremely disrespectful to keep an image of the King at the lowest part of my body, something to consider.

[donnykey]

I was strolling in WS not far from Linda bar when two young boys (i would say about 7-9 years old) stopped me to sell me a fluorescent necklace, i refused their offer. They tried to convince me, catching my shirt etc and suddenly, one of the two boys slipped his hand in my pocket. Two or three "one hundred banknotes" slipped out of my pocket, and fell on the floor. They ran away. I took my money back.

I've often sat with the lads at Linda Bar and we've observed the small gangs of light-fingered kids selling those glow-necklaces or flowers to passers-by. As they surround and confuse the victims those little hands can be seen to dip pockets quite often.

Here is a pic I took of the "little bastards" about 3 a.m. while in Linda Bar.

They should be home in bed.

Cheers DK

Attached Files

•  Misc51.jpg   118.4KB   1 downloads

[matchman]

I always take two wallets with me on trips, my regular wallet on arrival at the hotel is placed in the room safe and stays there for the duration.

I then carry the cash for the day around in the second wallet, as others mentioned between 5-10k Baht and a copy of my main Passport page and a copy of my medical insurance. I tend to keep about 400 baht loose in the pocket for buy small items.

If I'm drawing out cash then I do it normally in the afternoons and drop the ATM card back in the safe before I go out for the night. (I never take any cards with me in the evenings.) I also normally leave at least 2k back in the room safe then if I have had a flush evening and run out of money to pay a companion I know I have enough in the room to cover it.

Todate touch wood I've never had a problem in any country I've visited.

As others mentioned the glow rope kids can surround you and then it can become interesting, I've always been in the habit of putting my hand in my pocked on top of the wallet at any time I'm close to flowers sellers etc. Its simply now a habit, same with when its very crowded and I'm having to move past people, either on the street or moving through a bar.

I also only carry items in my left hand and always leave the right free to put in my pocket.

[katana57]

Best wallet I ever bought
https://www.roguewallet.com/