Self-Defence Thread / Protection Thread

[Aussie_Al]

HeyBiig Boy, a very valid question.

I guess it would depend upon several factors, such as loved ones around etc.

But if alone, almost for sure I'd "have a go" and be dammed with the consequences.

Guess it easy to offer sage advice behind a computor screen hey.....grin.

[STEVE G]

If a Thai told you to hand over your wallet (armed or not), would you simply hand it over?

With all respect BB, If I was your size I would just tread on them!

[Big Boy]

That would probably be my reaction.

I'm not intentionally having a go at anybody here - just trying to point out that it is just human nature to try to protect one's possessions. Regardless of the country you're in, you probably won't engage brain until after the deed has been done.

Unfortunately, Spitfire's message comes across (to me, maybe not others) as saying if you do defend your possessions, be prepared for reprisals, which could include death. A very anti-Thai message.

[PeteC]

I think we can say revenge is a fact of life here, more so than in the West. In my military days here I ended up with a bunch of broken ribs and a punctured lung compliments of the Thai family of a guy I jailed for stealing air conditioners off the base. I used to go home off base each evening armed and in uniform. They took their bloody time, about 3 months, until they caught me out in the evening in civilian clothes and no weapon. Probably not killed as the country was under martial law with quick executions the norm.

Another story I've told on here before I think is that we lost two Thai criminal investigators after the bases closed circa 1975. Both assassinated by the family of people they had jailed over the years.

If I was asked about the revenge factor, here and in the West, I would have to say the chances are tenfold here, and in most of Asia. Pete

[Spitfire]

OK, as my name seems to be appearing a bit too frequently here for me to stay quiet then I'll point out that we obviously can't make sweeping generalisations for all encounters everywhere here. Of course there can be situations where it is not deemed as serious but you'll have to hope you are a good judge of situations rather than just full of beans and hubris.

Any btw, these days you'll be amazed what youths here kill or injure each other over. How many times do we read in the news about tech students etc fashioning pencil guns and firing them at each other over a girl or a Pepsi or because someone flipped them off? Or about students in BBK throwing grenades at each other because there is strife between the colleges? These are just the college kids.

I don't think I said that the the content of the first post I made is gospel, period in every situation, just be aware of it. If it appeared that way and I was making sweeping generalisations then it's the old chestnut of inference/implying problems perhaps.

There may well be a fair % of situations that can be brushed aside with blase' ego but there are many that can't, depends on the situation and circumstances of course.

All I was saying is that people should be fully aware of what they are getting into and what can happen, we are not in Walton-on-the-naze here, all previous rules and bets from your home country are off.

The people trying to pull these sort of crimes here are way more desperate than the crims we are used to back in Europe, not to mention the drugs factor which is hugely widespread here with the perps.

By all means be a 'have-a-go-hero' if you deem it the thing to do, just be realistic of your surroundings, which are, at best confusingly alien mixed with a greater danger exposure than you are probably used to. Some of these Thais that do these crimes are nasty, violent little f**** with a P3 education level, if any education at all.

Unfortunately, Spitfire's message comes across (to me, maybe not others) as saying if you do defend your possessions, be prepared for reprisals, which could include death. A very anti-Thai message

Unfortunately, that is a possibility, whilst not in every case, it does happen quite a bit actually, not just to foreigners but to the Thais too. And no, it's not an anti-Thai message, you can equate the same thing to most of the Asian countries too that have massive gaps in society status and wealth.

Also, leaving the Thais out of it for a moment, then the foreigners beat each other up, shoot each other and there's also one hell of a lot of nasty pieces of crappy garbage around here with white skin, so you need to also be realistic about the problems other foreigners pose.

It's being aware of what is possible, although obviously not inevitable.

Maybe I should have posted this one after 9pm.

[Big Boy]

Ok, I take your point. All that I will say is that I've only felt threatened once in Thailand. That was during the 1992 uprising. I was in Roi Et, and had to cross a bridge full of protesting Thais. In reality, even then, nothing happened (but my underwear needed changing ).

My other brush with danger came a couple of years ago when the rest of the family left the house in Hua Hin to go to some party in Khao Takiab. They left the gate open. 2 opportunist Thais walked into the house a couple of minutes later. I think they had the shock of their lives when confronted with a Big Daddy/Giant Haystacks look alike, and they fled. If anything, they were the ones who felt threatened.

I've walked in Thailand most hours of the day/night for well over 20 years, and have never encountered any problems whatsoever.

[Spitfire]

I too seem to have encountered little really to make me fearful, but I don't go to stupid places, do silly things or piss the Thais off too much.

I assume you do the same probably.

However, I am aware of the speed of which situations can change should you encounter or mix it up with the more hardcore/wrong type. These types should be fairly easy to see and avoid though and even if contact is made then disengagement from the situation should be easy before anything goes south too much.

These days, to me anyhow, it's the under 25s that seem to be the biggest threat, completely out of control.

Also, the desperation factor plays a part now, especially as there seems to be less money, jobs etc around and everyone is swamped with all this advertising for modern living/western lifestyles and the gadgets to go with it, a beer is 90 baht or so in a restaurant or bar, food and travel prices on the up/inflation in general.

Common sense does not work in all situations of course, but if you have to do something or just get involved you must be aware of the real possibility of some 'blowback' and many a score here is settled with violence of some nature.

[dtaai-maai]

I too seem to have encountered little really to make me fearful, but I don't go to stupid places, do silly things or piss the Thais off too much.

Exactly.

[sand_dancer]

Guys,

A lot of sage advice on this thread. My own philosophy is '' Prevention is better than cure ''

Whilst I am not concerned about my own safety.

A question please.

I would be working away ( 3 - 4 months ) at a time. My GF being on her own during this time, would it be relatively safe for her in HH, during the periods that I am away ?

Thanks in advance

[Spitfire]

Firstly, welcome to the forum. You were pretty scant on the details there S_D on the situation you are leaving her in.

However, if you have a house and she's going to be staying there then make sure the security is up to date and discouraging. Have a read of the security threads in the 'Property & Real Estate' section.

Deterents on houses are always good and don't have to be expensive, wifi house alarms are available from a sponsor of the site if you want one, apparently very good by all reports plus they don't cost the earth either, reasonably priced.

Secondly, does she have friends or family around that will be staying or visiting all the time? What I mean by friends are the useful types, not the problematic hangers-on type.

Imo, try to imagine her life and all the variables for her here while you are away and provide security related improvements. Perhaps even ask her? Peace of mind is priceless if you are out the country imo.

If you don't have a house yourself then probably better to tell her to stay with her folks or if she has a job then an apartment/condo etc with security is probably your best bet.

Generally though, it is mostly safe for most people, this thread has been examining the circumstances of if someone invaded your place or attacked/robbed you etc and the possible consequences, or lack thereof, of proactive action/interference in the outcome by oneself.

If your house is in some enclosed estate then much less chance of having a problem, and if your security is in the class of the 'all singing all dancing' then so much the better, as your place will appear like it's too much trouble.

Failing that, then get some dogs that bark. However, having said all this, we don't know any specifics of your situation so hard to recommend and it's cool if you do or don't want to expand on what you said.

[sand_dancer]

Spitfire,

Thanks for the response, and in hindsight, probably not very well put.

We are coming to HH for the month of September, with a view to relocating permanently. If it ticks all the boxes, I will be leaving my GF there when I return to work at the end of September.

I will be renting a house inside an enclosed estate, the house security I can deal with myself. So that isn't really a major issue.

I think I was trying to allude to her safety ( She is a westerner ) and a virgin to Thailand, in a day to day run of the mill way. Going shopping, eating out, taxis etc. That sort of thing.

Any advise is greatly appreciated

[Spitfire]

Ah......now that's a bit different. I was assuming she was Thai, so you're going to have sort out visas/security and many more things.

There are those on the forum who live here as a western couple, so hopefully they will see it and maybe advise you.

Best thing to do is to see how it shapes up in Hua Hin when you get there, then take it from there.

There are also many on the forum that know lots about this sort of other related stuff that you'll need to find out regarding staying here, so if you become unsure about anything then start a thread in one of the forums you think the subject fits into and some more informed posters than me will square it away for you if they see it.

Probably a good place to start.

[sand_dancer]

Cheers Fella,

Duly noted

[sandman67]

I will be renting a house inside an enclosed estate

Run thru the SandoTrans 2000 and we get:

I will be renting a house in a burglary/intruder main target spot.

Mate....let me break this down for you.

Your average Thai burglar does NOT break into houses in thai neighbourhoods. No...they aim at where the money and fancy gadgets are... farang neighbourhoods. So, if you choose to live in one, you are choosing to live in a place the burglars come shopping in.

Heres a nice practical example. My mate S has a nice fancy house in a gated and walled community. In the last 5 years I have been here his house, alarmed, well lit and in a gate guard protected area has been subject to 3 attempts to break in, one of which was succesful and the guys drove in and out PAST the gate guard (who was asleep). His fellow gatees have also had similar break in attempts and sucessful ones.

I on the other hand live in a nice quiet thai neighbourhood off the klong road....now we have a street sign its soi 17. Number of break ins in this soi/sub soi set of three streets area in the past 5 years? ZERO. Intruder incidents - ONE. One of the teens over the street high on yabba wandered round my garden and scared Mrs S, a lesson he soon learned the painful way when I beat the shit out of him with a bokken and Mrs S via a police mate got him a night in the cells....not hard to prove as he was tied to the gate when they arrived, and his shoes and sunglasses were in the garden....at 3am. His papa apologised, I apologised for smacking him around....one bottle of cheap whiskey to his dad as a gesture of goodwill....end of issue. No more incidents. There is empty spare land all round the soi so its perfect break in cover.... but NO burglaries. Its a thai area so the burglars bypass us.

If you live in a farang ghetto...sorry walled community..... you are advertising your wealth, and will need to protect your property accordingly. Your choice....I think its a mad idea, but horses for courses.

Please DONT buy a gun though eh? Offers no protection AT ALL, I assure you.

Have a good one mate.... there are plenty of resources here re home security, and HH is no more unsafe than anywhere else Ive lived, and a lot safer than some (like Tottenham for example).

If you do buy a place in a farang area target harden it....gravel makes it hard to walk on quietly, thorny bushes outside windows a pain to get to the window, lights that come on from movement, vandal paint on your window sills, razor wire concealed along teh inside edge of a perimiter wall lip where someone will grab it when they jump up and grab the top....get creative.

The downside of alarms is that your average thai will not even wake up...they are immune to noise levels....and almost certainly wont respond in any way. In a farang area they may be more effective.

And a camera is always a good idea to provide video evidence.

[Takiap]

sand_dancer, have a good read at what sandman has written, because in my opinion, his response is spot on. If I were you, I would think twice before renting or buying in a development, unless you are able to find one where almost all the houses are occupied all year round. Sure, homes outside of developments also get broken into from time to time, but certainly not as often as homes inside developments. As sandman has pointed out, developments are 99% farang areas, and for the average Thai criminal, that means there's money to be had. Burglars also have the added benefit of the high walls which surround most developments, because once they're in, nobody can see them. If you really must live in a development, and you intend staying here long term, I would advise you to get a large dog, and go for a breed which has a bad name, such as a rottweiler for example. No, they're not bad ass dogs, but the average worker looking for some quick dosh is afraid of them. I know dogs can be poisoned, but most burglars aren't bothered to go through all the trouble of doing so. Why go to such great lengths just so you can nick a few fancy gadgets, when you can go in next door and get the self same gadgets without having to kill a dog first. In my 13+ years in LOS, I have clearly seen that a big mean looking dog is more effective than the very best security systems. Alarms may scare a criminal away, but alarms can also be disabled. Video cameras are pointless because they don't prevent the crime from taking place, and the police are not going to even bother looking at your video footage - why would they, considering there are more than 60 million people living here, and considering the person who breaks in could in fact even come from Burma. Of all the people I know who have big dogs, not one has been broken into, but of course getting a dog will depend on your circumstances.

As far as day to day living is concerned - your partners won't have any bother at all, unless she's a serious trouble maker.