Elderly Swiss man murdered in Hua Hin

[lomuamart]

I would have thought that a good place to start would be Imm.
That was decentralised a couple of years ago and people should conduct their business with their local office.
Imm here must have pretty accurate records of how many people are on retirement extensions, marriage extensions or Non Imm B/WPs. That would give a decent picture of how many long-term expats there are in town.
There are sure to still be some who do border runs to Ranong/Burma (and elsewhere) and those who are on tourist visas or single or multi entry Non Os that they've obtained from their home country or neighbouring Embassies and consulates. However, I wonder how many there are now, especially of border runners, as the rules have changed making it much more difficult to do - or at least it's vastly more inconvenient.
Imm will also have a record of where those on long term extensions live as you have to report that.
Of course, the accuracy of Imm records will depend on how up-to-date they're kept, but as said before I wuld have thought they's be the obvious starting point.

[dozer]

About 5 years ago one of my wife’s staff was approached by the local BIB and asked to look at a series of photos of a body that had been found somewhere up towards Palau a couple of weeks earlier.
The body was badly decomposed and the wildlife had been at it, so the face was completely unrecognisable.
In fact seemingly the only way you could tell it was not a Thai was the size of the frame and the tattoos.
I never did hear about this through the local media and I can well imagine that there is every chance that the body was never identified.

[dave1122]

I have no problems watching air crash investigations etc before my flights but reading this thread has me a bit concerned. Any safety tips for a first time farang in Hua Hin?

I don't want to be murdered for $400!

[Big Boy]

Be sensible, and don't leave yourself vulnerable. Don't flash the cash ie keep a low profile.

Don't worry Dave, I've been visiting Hua Hin for years, and have never felt unsafe. I certainly feel as safe in Hua Hin as I do at home - if not safer.

[Takiap]

Dave, please don't for a minute think it's only farang who get killed here, because it's certainly not. I don't know the details of those who have met such fate, but I myself have never once felt threatened in all the years I've been living here.

I do know of one Austrian guy who thought it would be funny to toss a stone at the security guard who was fast asleep at the gates to the development. A few minutes later the security guard arrive at his house with a huge knife, but fortunately for the Austrian guy, there were people watching, so he used his fists instead. Of course he got fired immediately, and yes he should not have been asleep, but this is Thailand, and that's what security guards are paid to do. While the Austrian guy didn't deserve to get killed, he should have known better than to interfere, and especially in the manner he did.

This is why we don't see road rage here, because the Thais know that showing such feelings could get you killed. When in Thailand, do as the Thais do, and smile, even when it's hard to do.

As for your safety when you come over, you have no reason for concern.:-)

[Spitfire]

Takiap is right Dave, the locals are snuffed out all the time, just open a Thai newspaper any day you like and you'll see the same pics etc.

For foreigners, it is still fairly unusual in general, although Pattaya is the death capital for foreigners in Thailand really, all the time there.

Having lived here for almost 10 years, there are very few times indeed that I've felt unsafe, it depends what type of situation you put yourself in.

Hundred of thousands of people come here every year without the slightest problem, mainly the biggest threat you are under is that of being overcharged with many things.

As Takiap mentioned, if you do something stupid or act like a disrespectful clown then you could get into trouble, and as with his story, the Austrian guy was being an unnecessary toss** and the security guard 'lost face' in front of people, they can be a bit hair trigger with that sort of stuff, especially the buffoons that have all the menial jobs, but they are around you all the time, so worth considering, a smile gets you out of almost everything as that's what the locals do all the time.

The man in this thread was a victim of an unusual vicious crime carried out by a monster that was allowed to wander around till he decided to kill.

[lilmolfie]

Whilst I'm glad to read that most people living in HH feel safe, I on the other hand do not. Whether it's because I'm female is neither here nor there. I've never been one to scare easily but after having my house broken into.... now I'm a complete coward. I sleep with a knife under my bed and my bedroom door locked and last week I even slept with the light on.... how tragic. I'm not into scare mongering but I highly suggest keeping your wits about you. I personally feel as though I'm in a lose, lose situation. I don't like carry my valuables around through fear of being mugged and I don't like leaving them at home through fear of been burgled again. Oh what is a girl to do? Well I'm hoping these feelings will subside and it's just shock and paranoia that is giving me an over-active imagination but I guess only time will tell...

[Big Boy]

lilmolfie, I was once burgled whilst I lay in my bed in the North East of England. I can totally relate to your feelings at this point in time.

For months after my burglary I found myself waking up in the middle of the night thinking I could hear noises downstairs. On several occasions I rushed downstairs (used to sleep naked at that time - not a pretty sight) to confront the burglars. Of course, it was my imagination running out of control - mind you, the sight of me in my birthday suit would have stunned many a burglar

Don't worry, the bad feelings will subside with time.

Can we please get this topic back to the subject of the elderly Swiss gentleman who was murdered?

[lilmolfie]

I found myself waking up in the middle of the night thinking I could hear noises downstairs. On several occasions I rushed downstairs (used to sleep naked at that time - not a pretty sight) to confront the burglars. Of course, it was my imagination running out of control - mind you, the sight of me in my birthday suit would have stunned many a burglar

Don't worry, the bad feelings will subside with time.

I did something similar last week, thought there was someone on the bathroom, but I'm pretty these feelings will subside. I can't let this ruin my whole experience out here in the LOS....

Agreed, back to topic.

What a senseless act.... and for what? A few bob and a moped. I've read countless stories about people being murdered for a few quid. How can anyone be that desperate that they're willing to take a life? This saddens me greatly

Condolences to this gentelmans' friends and family.

[richard]

I found myself waking up in the middle of the night thinking I could hear noises downstairs. On several occasions I rushed downstairs (used to sleep naked at that time - not a pretty sight) to confront the burglars. Of course, it was my imagination running out of control - mind you, the sight of me in my birthday suit would have stunned many a burglar

Don't worry, the bad feelings will subside with time.

I did something similar last week, thought there was someone on the bathroom, but I'm pretty these feelings will subside. I can't let this ruin my whole experience out here in the LOS....

Agreed, back to topic.

What a senseless act.... and for what? A few bob and a moped. I've read countless stories about people being murdered for a few quid. How can anyone be that desperate that they're willing to take a life? This saddens me greatly

Condolences to this gentelmans' friends and family.

A few bob and a moped can be a lot to some Thais

[lilmolfie]

A few bob and a moped can be a lot to some Thais

I'd imagine so..... still doesn't justify anything. I just wonder if people like this sit and wonder 'is it worth it'. Probably not as it seemed very pre-meditated.... IMO.

I read today in AWOL that they stole 3000B not 300B
Either way, a very sad story indeed

[margaretcarnes]

I don't think they even stop to consider the risk or consequencies Lilmolfie. This year HuaHin has seen at least two farang now killed for - alledgedly - between 300 and 3000 baht (plus in this case a motorbike. Which might have been rented anyway.)
Several issues here which have been discussed before, but first the migrant Isaan construction workers who are working all over HH. Then the fact that 3000 baht for example can represent 2 or more weeks' income for many Thais. Third the fact that despite our Western view of 'Buddhism' they have scant regard for human life, whether Thai or farang - they live for the day and tomorrow will take care of itself.
Thai people see an opportunity and go for it regardless. If they end up in prison that is just Buddhas' will.
Some of them can't even wait a few months for a farang to die from a terminal illness before jumping in and killing for their inheritance - which would have happened anyway given time. That has also happened this year in HH.
The truth is we will never know the truth about some of these farang deaths. Too much is covered up and often too little investigation is done by the MIB, simply because Thais don't see the point of spending time and money on the type of thorough investigation which we would expect in the West.
On top of that is the ongoing construction work in HH - and in other places - which inevitably requires Isaan labour. And it is very easy - maybe too easy - for the authorities to blame these Isaan people for anything that happens.
In this particular case there has been a quick outcome and arrest, which I take as a good sign that the HH MIB are finally starting to take their work seriously. We can only hope this attitude continues, but let's not hold our breath.

[Spitfire]

It could also be that the changing society and westernisation of LOS is making the crimes go up too. Now, people need much more money than they have ever needed before and have all the luxuries and gadgets of the western lifestyle forced down their throats every day through all the media/soap operas etc.

When I speak to my father-in-law he says even just twenty years ago in his village only a few teachers had motorbikes and people may have spent about 50 baht a week on everything to survive, a bowl of noodles+meat balls was about 1 baht. 3000 baht would have been nigh on enough for months of village life then.

Now it's houses on estates, 4x4 raised up pickups/cars. The speed of change and thus the change in society/peoples expectations and needs have just spiraled out of control and all reason.

Crime has rocketed for many reasons, I'm sure, but this is probably one of them.

People seem to be getting more desperate all the time and willing to go to longer lengths to get money than ever before. Suppose foreigners are easy targets in general.

Now you get some menial labour job guy like this pulling an attempt like this for a measly 3000 and a scooter, which even if he sold it, might only net him a few thousand without any documents.

'Live for today and to hell with tomorrow' is quite a realistic way of putting it Margaret when it comes to many of them.

[margaretcarnes]

I think you're right there Spitfire. But there's also the drug problems like anywhere else. The divide between HiSo Thais and the manual workers seems to be getting wider, maybe helped along by all the publicity about Thaksins' zillions.
But traditionally the class system in the LOS has worked because the lower classes would never dream of aspiring to anything higher - they were born and brought up to 'know their place' and accept it. Perhaps the times they are a changin'.