Thailand 2019 Crime & Safety Report: Chiang
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Thailand 2019 Crime & Safety Report: Chiang Mai This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Thailand at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. Reconsider travel to Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces due to civil unrest. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizen Services (ACS) unit cannot recommend a particular individual or establishment and assumes no responsibility for the quality of services provided. Review OSAC’s Thailand page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threats There is minimal risk from crime in Chiang Mai. Most travelers to Thailand feel relatively safe. Non-violent crimes, however, appear to be occurring with greater frequency. Petty theft, purse snatching, and pickpocketing are more common in areas foreigners frequent, such as Chiang Mai’s Walking Street and Night Bazaar. Violent crimes (e.g. murder, armed robbery, and sexual assault) against U.S. citizens and other foreigners are relatively rare. Many thieves carry knives, and stabbings do occur. Violent crimes typically happen at night, often when victims have been drinking or separate from their companions. Besides Chiang Mai, these crimes are most common in Bangkok and Pattaya Mai, and in tourist areas in southern Thailand. Sexually-motivated violence is most likely to occur at parties, discos, or beaches (e.g., the Full Moon Party on Phangan Island). On a few occasions, assailants have altered drinks in order to incapacitate victims. U.S. citizens have also been robbed after soliciting commercial sex workers. In 2018, police arrested an Indonesian woman for allegedly drugging and robbing two foreign tourists in Chiang Mai. Authorities found one of the individuals dead in his hotel room; the other required hospitalization. While this type of incident is relatively uncommon, it underscores the risk associated with leaving drinks unattended or accepting drinks from strangers. Although relatively rare, residential burglaries do occur in areas where Westerners live. In 2016, a group of thieves burglarized more than 100 residences in over 25 neighborhoods in/around Chiang Mai. Many of the homes were occupied at the time of the robbery. There were no reports of significant physical confrontation with residents who were home; however, this rash of burglaries highlights the need to lock doors and windows, and remove keys from unlocked areas. 1 In 2017, the Royal Thai Police apprehended the suspects responsible for the burglaries, recovering a number of stolen items. This appears to have been an isolated spike in break-ins and there have been no recent reports of related incidents. There have, however, been isolated instances of domestic staff stealing cash or valuables from their employers. In general, the safety and security of guest rooms in quality hotels is adequate. Although there are numerous international and indigenous organized crime elements operating throughout Thailand. The activities of these groups, most of which are concentrated in major cities, include drug trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution, and document fraud. The Embassy and Consulate, however, are not aware of any U.S. organizations experiencing problems associated with organized crime. Crimes involving credit/debit card fraud and identity theft occur occasionally. International criminal organizations based in Malaysia, Ukraine, Russia, and elsewhere have installed sophisticated skimming devices on ATMs in order to steal cardholder information. Fraudsters later used that information to conduct illicit transactions and withdraw money from accounts. For more information, review the OSAC report, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud. Transportation-Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions The road infrastructure in and around Chiang Mai is adequate to good. Traffic moves on the left side, with mainly right-side drive vehicles. Roads can be dangerous due to careless drivers. Visitors who decide to drive personal vehicles should exercise extreme caution. Police do not strictly enforce and drivers widely ignore traffic laws. Traffic hazards include drivers exceeding the speed limit, under the influence of alcohol, running red lights, and moving against traffic (especially in motorcycles). Other transportation safety concerns include rapid or unexpected lane changes, heavily-laden motorcycles and trucks, and underage or unlicensed drivers. Paved roads, many of them four lanes wide, connect Thailand's major cities. On the country's numerous two-lane roads, however, slow-moving trucks limit speed and visibility. Speeding, reckless passing, and failure to obey traffic laws are common, as is the consumption of alcohol, amphetamines, and other stimulants by drivers of commercial vehicles. Motorcycle and moped accidents are common and serious, since the drivers of these vehicles generally have less training than car or truck drivers. The majority of traffic fatalities involve motorcycles. Local law requires wearing a helmet when riding on a motorcycle; however, many riders continue to avoid helmets, despite random police checkpoints and ticketing. The accident rate is particularly high at night and during long holidays when alcohol use and traffic are heavier than normal. During the annual Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday in April, the problem compounds as people throw water at passing vehicles as part of the traditional celebration. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices. 2 Congested roads and the scarcity of ambulances can make it difficult for the victims of vehicle accidents to receive timely medical attention. It is customary in a traffic accident for the more affluent driver to pay the expenses of the other party, regardless of who is at fault. Authorities determine fault in major accidents; those involved are typically brought to the local police station. Senior officers will discuss the accident with drivers, insurance representatives, police officers, and others to determine fault. Pedestrian safety is also a serious security concern. Many areas lack sidewalks; pedestrians should not expect drivers to yield the right of way, even in marked crosswalks. When crossing streets, pedestrians should be cautious of vehicles running red lights or driving against traffic. Public Transportation Conditions Songthaews (pick-up trucks with two bench seats affixed along either side of the bed) and tuk- tuks (three-wheeled taxis) are abundant and generally safe. Crime involving taxis and or tuk-tuks occur, especially in tourist areas. Songthaews and tuk-tuks typically do not have meters. Motorcycle taxis are not common in Chiang Mai; avoid using them. Tour buses are widely available for transportation between large cities in northern Thailand, and are generally safe and reliable. There are a limited number of metered taxis at the airport. Registered taxicab drivers must have a yellow placard with their name in Latin script and their photograph on the dashboard. Be wary of entering any vehicle where the photograph does not match the driver. Police will seldom intervene in incidents involving taxi drivers. Taxi drivers may attempt to charge excessive fares at airports and near major tourist attractions. Reach an agreement on the fare before entering a for-hire vehicle. Some taxis in Chiang Mai have meters, but drivers may refuse to use them. Drivers will often refuse fares, especially during rush hour or to places they do not know well. Raising one’s voice and using aggressive body language could be seen as a threat to the driver. Ask to be let out of a vehicle if the driver is acting suspiciously or driving erratically. Ride-sharing services operate in Chiang Mai, though these services remain under government review. While travelers often use rideshare services without incident, there have been isolated instances in which other public transportation providers (e.g., taxi and tuk-tuk drivers) have reacted negatively to lost fares. Travelers who find themselves in such situations should not overreact; try to resolve the situation in a safe and expeditious manner. Streets tend to be very congested, especially in the downtown area around the moat. Exit vehicles toward the sidewalk to avoid opening a door into an oncoming car or motorcycle. Aviation/Airport Conditions Air travel remains a relatively safe option. The last significant accident occurred in 2007, when a low-cost carrier crashed at Phuket International Airport, killing 90 people, including five U.S. citizens; the carrier ceased operations in 2010. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority as not compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Thailand’s air carrier operations. 3 Terrorism Threat Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns There is moderate risk from terrorism in Chiang Mai. The far south provinces of Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat frequently experience criminally-