Do you feel secure in Udon?

35yrs on and off in Thailand and no major problems..however they dont have grills on the windows, and everything chained down for nothing. the gap between the haves and havenots is getting wider, and with it will come more crime..I am not saying you need to arm yourself, that is up to you. indeed, having a gun can cause more problems just by having it in your possession.

a sword or a knife is not easy to handle for the untrained, and more than likely will be taken off you and used against you..you also have to get in close to use such weapons, and if you are confronted by two or three robbers, you will have your hands full.

Pepper spray is also a close contact weapon. it would be difficult to squirt a couple of robbers in the face, in the darkness of your house..throwing stars are for kung fu movies, not much use at all to the ordinary Joe Bloggs..I have known a black belt karate dude get attacked and killed, even with all his skills..

there is nothing better to make people sit up and pay attention, than to have a gun pointed at ya..been there , done that..you dont have to get in close to use it, and it can handle several robbers at a time, but it needs to be handy, not locked away in the closet just when you need it..also I have known kids to accidentially kill themselves when palying with papa's gun, and a bloke or two to kill his hunter mate because he didnt identify his target..owning a gun and handling a gun are two different things..they are made to kill and they dont care who is at the receiving end..even a cut down long rifle will do the deed.

alittle bit of advice..if you do go all out to acquire a gun, and somehow come across an intruder, and shoot him, always fire a second shoot into the ceiling, so you can tell the authorities that you did fired a warning shot..it helps.

Thailand is a beautiful place, with the majority of good friendly local residents. there is only afew bad apples..hopefully you will not let yourself get into a position where you have to deal with these people..take precaustions, dont become the tall poppy, play it cool, and you should never have the need for a weapon...

oh guys...there are several ways to protect yourself from the criminals and thiefs, try to lock every doors, establish security systems in your house or whatever. But I don't agree that people should have guns or weapons to protect themselves. Unless you can handle with that properly and you won't let your kids have your guns to make a rampage shooting at school.

A question:Does anyone know a falang that caused physical harm or death to a Thai,whether provoked,self -defense or whatever,that didn't have problems from the incident??

Mores the point, does anyone know of a farang who has been harmed in any way during an attempted or actual break-in to their property in Udon (or Thailand)

All this talk of guns, knives, throwing stars etc... jeez man - this is Udon, not the Bronx !

Aside from basic precautions such as good locks on the doors, metal grills at the impossibly cheap windows and maybe even an alarm, or a dog - is there really any need for much else?

If I didn't feel safe without having a weapons stash and it was on my mind all the time that I might get assaulted, robbed or worse - I would have to question if I am living in the right country.

Paul wrote:Mores the point, does anyone know of a farang who has been harmed in any way during an attempted or actual break-in to their property in Udon (or Thailand)

All this talk of guns, knives, throwing stars etc... jeez man - this is Udon, not the Bronx !

Aside from basic precautions such as good locks on the doors, metal grills at the impossibly cheap windows and maybe even an alarm, or a dog - is there really any need for much else?

If I didn't feel safe without having a weapons stash and it was on my mind all the time that I might get assaulted, robbed or worse - I would have to question if I am living in the right country.

Well said Paul.

I just finished my punji-stick field and machine gun nest.

As soon as my claymores arrive, I'll have the outside perimeter complete.

Anybody know where I can buy laser-activated flamethrowers?

Paul wrote:Mores the point, does anyone know of a farang who has been harmed in any way during an attempted or actual break-in to their property in Udon (or Thailand)

In Udon, no. Which is one reason why we are returning. It is much safer. In Thailand, of course! Just read the newspapers there. Doesn't happen frequently, but it happens a heck of a lot more frequently than in the past. Without effort, I can recall 4 occurrences in Pattaya during 2009 off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more if one cares to dig through all the issues of Pattaya People during 2009.

Heck, just take a look at the current issue! It's utter madness compared to 10 years ago!:

http://www.pattayapeople.com/default.asp?Folder=2089

The wife assures me that what she hears through the grapevine is that it is still very SAFE in Udon, but not as safe as before. She wants her stun gun and mace "just in case".

I was in fact talking tongue in cheek about arming oneself up to the hilt, before battening down the hatches for an assault on my property and my person.
I have never bothered abut security as such, but then I have never assualted Thai sensibilities like being brazen about my money ( or lack of it) and wearing obscene amounts of gold, the like I saw in the complex the other day a farnag and his darling Thai wife must have been wearing close on 1 million baht in gold between them. That is an open invitation for a robber or even a burglar who would follow them I am sure.

But then some think that the wearing of such is the thing to do. it does and always will create envy, do not forget that even in wealthy western countries many jewels seen are paste as the real ones are in a bank nice and safe.

if one is careful, circumspect and get on with your neighbours etc, you really should have no worries.....he says hopefully. .............lol

KHONDAHM wrote: In Thailand, of course! Just read the newspapers there. Doesn't happen frequently, but it happens a heck of a lot more frequently than in the past. Without effort, I can recall 4 occurrences in Pattaya during 2009 off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more if one cares to dig through all the issues of Pattaya People during 2009.

Heck, just take a look at the current issue! It's utter madness compared to 10 years ago!:

http://www.pattayapeople.com/default.asp?Folder=2089

The wife assures me that what she hears through the grapevine is that it is still very SAFE in Udon, but not as safe as before. She wants her stun gun and mace "just in case".

I live and work on and off in Pattaya and have done for several years. I have a house there and apart from one incident about 2 years ago when some young lad stole a gold chain off my wrist whilst I was riding my motorcycle - I have never felt anymore unsafe in Pattaya than Udon.
Much of the sensationalism is hyped up and the average person is no more at risk than anyone else in any other part of Thailand - in my opinion.
Due to the numbers (any type) of person which Pattaya seems to attract - there will always be more incidents of crime just as in any similar city in the world.

However - this is about do you feel secure in Udon, therefore the answer is a resounding yes, as it is in every other town I have lived or visited in Thailand (Bangkok included).
I would certainly not say the same for my home country of the UK where crime and attacks are a very real possibility and you may well get stabbed just for looking at someone in the wrong way.

Yes - I certainly do feel safe here

parrot wrote:While I feel very safe in Udon, sometimes I wonder if it's not the result of the ไม่รู้อะไรสบาย (mai ru ah rai, sa bai) syndrome.

Co-signed. To use a similar Western cliche: "Ignorance is bliss."

I think those who are more attuned or are able to be aware (i.e. are able to understand the news on TV and gossip) are more cynical BECAUSE we understand what is really going on. That said, I do feel it is safe in Udon compared to many other cities of its size, but not so safe that one should abandon precautions and deterrents. In a not-too-distant village where one is well known, perhaps, but not nearer the city.

In my opinion - both personal and professional, I have found much of the crime to be opportunist crime.
An article of value left in the garden, a door or window left open, a handbag left unattended.
It is not common to have a break in where violent entry is used, and much less so where the occupants (if any) are threatened or physically abused.

Basic sensible precautions should see the majority of us get by without any problems at all.

An example given in an earlier post was of the person walking round draped in gold.
Most of us learn after a while that it works in the opposite effect from that desired of the wearer in that instead of others admiring her wealth - we simply mock them for trying to flaunt their apparent wealth and the 'look at me' syndrome.
After a few years here - I sold all the gold I had. It had simply lost its 'shine'

The biggest weapon you have against becoming a victim - is your head. !

Paul wrote:
The biggest weapon you have against becoming a victim - is your head. !

Agree 100% Paul. Head butt them first and ask questions latter.

KHONDAHM wrote:

parrot wrote:While I feel very safe in Udon, sometimes I wonder if it's not the result of the ไม่รู้อะไรสบาย (mai ru ah rai, sa bai) syndrome.

Co-signed. To use a similar Western cliche: "Ignorance is bliss."

I think those who are more attuned or are able to be aware (i.e. are able to understand the news on TV and gossip) are more cynical BECAUSE we understand what is really going on. That said, I do feel it is safe in Udon compared to many other cities of its size, but not so safe that one should abandon precautions and deterrents. In a not-too-distant village where one is well known, perhaps, but not nearer the city.

Khun Dahm, don't get too full of yourself just because you can understand Thai tv and gossip. We do not understand everything, and some things are not really understood until you are in a particular situation.

BKKSTAN, or NKSTAN, as far as I know, does not read, write or speak Thai proficiently, yet he has as good an understanding of Thailand and its people as you or I or anyone else who can get by in Thai.

I know of a 62yrs old Pom from pattaya who killed his thai wife after she asked for a divorce, and of a Canadian who was shot dead in BKK, and of a Welshman who was kidnapped, and of others who have been beaten to a pulp when drunk or drugged, and I also know that a number of tourists go ' missing ' every year..so it not all a bunch of roses