Tourist from Israel steals donation envelope after massage dispute in Pattaya

Tourist from Israel steals donation envelope after massage dispute in Pattaya

A new incident in Pattaya raises questions about the safety of tourists. On October 17, a scandalous incident occurred at a Thai massage parlor on Soi 5, apparently resulting from dissatisfaction over a massage. A 36-year-old tourist from Israel was not satisfied with the service and wanted his money back: 300 baht for the massage. Angry at the situation, the tourist grabbed a donation envelope meant for a local temple and tried to escape. Massage parlor employees quickly raised the alarm, and local motorcycle taxi drivers came to the rescue to subdue the suspect and take away the stolen donation envelopes that he had hidden in his pants. He was subsequently taken into custody by police and proceedings will be initiated in accordance with Thai law. Salon staff are being asked to provide video footage and the seized envelopes for a formal complaint, Pattaya Mail reports.

But this incident is not the only one to shake tourists' sense of security in Pattaya. Numerous thefts have been reported in recent weeks, making visitors sweat. For example, a 68-year-old Swiss man reported that his wallet containing 5,000 baht and important documents was stolen during a shared taxi ride. Another French tourist lost 57,000 baht during a short stay in a bathroom. An Australian also reported the theft of his motorcycle, which he had simply parked on the side of the road and accidentally left the key in. Cameras show an unknown man driving away on a motorcycle, raising concerns about crime in the area. According to the Farang, it is advisable for travelers to be particularly vigilant in busy tourist areas.

Security initiatives in Pattaya

In addition, the tourist police intend to equip mobile emergency vehicles that also use AI-based identification systems. Motorcycle taxis will also be regulated by new vests with driver photos and QR codes to further increase safety. According to Thailand Tip, it is of utmost importance to improve the security situation in Pattaya so that the city not only remains popular as a holiday destination, but also perceived as a safe travel destination becomes.

Given all these incidents and measures, it remains to be seen whether the security improvements will have the desired effect and whether tourists can feel safer in the future.