Two Filipino men are identified by their victims after being arrested by Thai Tourist Police
Two Filipino men are identified by their victims after being arrested by Thai Tourist Police

THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: Thai Tourist police have broken up a Filipino “legshaking gang” responsible for a string of robberies against tourists in Bangkok’s Silom and Bang Rak areas.

Two Filipino men were arrested at the entrance to Soi Silom 28 as they were fighting with good Samaritans after robbing a 54-year-old Canadian man of $US3,000 (Bt103,000) in cash, $US3,000 in cashiers checks, and Bt1,000 ($US29) in cash.

Police say that the duo, along with five other gang members, assaulted and robbed tourists by pretending to drop papers near the victim. They would then shake the victim’s legs in a chaotic scene, while other gang members pocketed the victim’s valuables. Then all would flee in taxis.

A 59-year-old Bangkok-based jewelry businessman told police he was robbed of Bt100,000 ($US2,900) worth of valuables by five men while crossing Silom after withdrawing money from an ATM.

Deputy Tourist Police commander Colonel Yongkiat Monpranit said Tourist Police had given the case priority after a 48-year-old French tourist had gold ornaments worth Bt100,000 ($US2,900) and Bt9,200 ($US268) in cash stolen by the gang at a Starbucks coffee outlet on Silom Road on March 18.

Police said the suspects had also pick-pocketed tourists in the Pratunam area and had been responsible for luring tourists to illegal gambling dens and stealing their valuables.

Colonel Yongkiat said he was concerned the gang had damaged Thailand’s image by targeting tourists so a special operation had been mounted to catch them.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for Jun 10, 2009




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