The apprehension of crime

I can't help but notice the gated communities and fenced houses with barred windows all over Thailand. Is the apprehension of having one's house broken into that great in Thailand?

I am not saying they have it wrong. In the west burglary is rife, I know I was a copper, and many people made their houses targets by leaving the premises insecure or vulnerable.

I know Thailand has it's perceived classes of have nothings, to have a bit, to have everything, but my general impression of Thailand is that crime is not really that rife, especially anti-social and property crime, though I could be wrong. I just don't see Thailand having the population of drug-fcuked, the world owes me a living, arseholes that we have in the west, but again I could be wrong. so are the Thais overly conscious about burglary,or is it a case of they can't afford insurance, or to lose hard worked for items, or are they just sensible?

Your thoughts would be welcome and enlightening.

You should see France, shutters on floor 18. Germany: Not a house without them. It seems to be bars or a dog in Thailand, the latter being pure to ensure no break in.

Why do I have the feeling you are collecting data for some sort of article/book? copper/nurse?

I think crime is increasing in Thailand,espescially amongst young unemployed males.Meth is rampant in Thailand,called Yah Baa!I would say that there are more gated,spiked and bars on windows than I ever saw in the USA.

It must be the Buddhist culture,because I am surprised that burglaries and assault s are not higher,the police are no deterrent at all.I would guess that for most Thais,it is relatively cheap to live here,especially if the family unit sticks together,relatively few starving desperate people compared to many Western countries!

erik1 wrote:You should see France, shutters on floor 18. Germany: Not a house without them. It seems to be bars or a dog in Thailand, the latter being pure to ensure no break in.

Why do I have the feeling you are collecting data for some sort of article/book? copper/nurse?

555, I wrote a book 5 years ago: http://www.trafford.com/05-1113
Too much like hard work to do it again!

Like I said, I am not saying they have it wrong. When I was a copper in Manchester my house was like a fortress, alarmed and all, but that was the UK, the most crime-ridden **** hole on earth.

nkstan wrote:I think crime is increasing in Thailand,espescially amongst young unemployed males.Meth is rampant in Thailand,called Yah Baa!I would say that there are more gated,spiked and bars on windows than I ever saw in the USA.

It must be the Buddhist culture,because I am surprised that burglaries and assault s are not higher,the police are no deterrent at all.I would guess that for most Thais,it is relatively cheap to live here,especially if the family unit sticks together,relatively few starving desperate people compared to many Western countries!

Yeah I know meth is pretty bad in Thailand, like the west.
As a matter of interest what is the law (ok farang may be on thin ice) with scrotes breaking into your house, is summary justice allowed, or is it how much you can pay the bib?

my place east of the Ring Road was broken into a few years back and a microwave stolen. The cops responded took the report and told the TW and me that two other Thai owned houses were broken into in the same neighborhood.. Conclusion, a Yaa-Baa crime of opportunity. The druggies look for places hidden from view and in that case it was a back kitchen window which didn't have the window grate screws tack-welded. It probably took them 15-30 minutes to break in toss the place but because the only exterior door was deadbolted (requires a key on either side) they could only abscond with the M/W as the window was too small for anything else.. So, when we built our new place, the grates went on the windows a bolts tack-welded, grated screen doors with padlock hasps, and the front and rear doors having inside/outside deadbolt locks.. Drapes on all windows to prevent observation of what we've got inside and we usually have someone on the property... We've had no problems since back in 05-06 with the first break-in..

On wacking a burglar, you'll get a variety of answers.. Generally speaking I think if you're in the place and shout and holler when someone's breaking in, they'll leave in a hurry...