Robberies!
Heard recently on the grapevine that a tourist took a ladyboy back to his room and whilst he was in the shower the ladyboy took $500 cash. Guess that's what you get for shirtlifting. Course it could all be cojones.ashkoot wrote:i have heard that there have been quite a few robberies in phnom penh recently.
Well OK, we did our share of joking about this issue. I've been in and out of Cambodia a bunch of times in the last year and a half and personally . . . I really haven't seen much difference. But now, what's that? A sample of one?
I am guessing that the few who chimed in have similiar, "same same" experinces but does anybody have any insight to which way the crime scene is moving?
I nearly fell victim to a "phone snatch" on my last visit but my phone was attached to my belt. 1 point for me I suppose. I think with the influx of higher priced phones, the simple "snatch" seems to be a more lucrative and less risky gig for aspiring thieves than the "rob em' at gunpoint style. Many people I spoke to tend to agree that this type of theft is on the rise. Does this mean that other crimes are in decline?
Anybody have any "serious" opinions?
I am guessing that the few who chimed in have similiar, "same same" experinces but does anybody have any insight to which way the crime scene is moving?
I nearly fell victim to a "phone snatch" on my last visit but my phone was attached to my belt. 1 point for me I suppose. I think with the influx of higher priced phones, the simple "snatch" seems to be a more lucrative and less risky gig for aspiring thieves than the "rob em' at gunpoint style. Many people I spoke to tend to agree that this type of theft is on the rise. Does this mean that other crimes are in decline?
Anybody have any "serious" opinions?
It depends on who you speak to.
I've had people say to me avoid the area around Psar Kandal as there are lots of robbers there. I've never had problems although there was one occasion when three khmer blokes followed me, one either side and one immediately behind. They were very close, real invasion of personal space This was alongside PK. Perhaps they thought better of it when they noticed that with the torn shorts and flip flops I was sporting there was a good chance that they'd be pissing in the wind trying to get anything valuable off me.
There are obvious things that can be done to avoid looking like a target. Dress like a bag person. Never carry cash or valuables. Never wear a watch or phone. Don't wash or shave and mutter unintelligbly to imaginary friends.
I've had people say to me avoid the area around Psar Kandal as there are lots of robbers there. I've never had problems although there was one occasion when three khmer blokes followed me, one either side and one immediately behind. They were very close, real invasion of personal space This was alongside PK. Perhaps they thought better of it when they noticed that with the torn shorts and flip flops I was sporting there was a good chance that they'd be pissing in the wind trying to get anything valuable off me.
There are obvious things that can be done to avoid looking like a target. Dress like a bag person. Never carry cash or valuables. Never wear a watch or phone. Don't wash or shave and mutter unintelligbly to imaginary friends.
My friends are not imaginary friends, and if I could ever stop the CIA from hacking into my PC, I'm sure my friends would feel safe enough to tell me that your comments about imaginary friends are faulse.
You can always be in the wrong place at the wrong time, if so you are screwed no matter what.
It's been said a million times but your safety is your responsibility,,,,
Pissed, can't stand up ?,,, yes you are open to the opportunity of having someone you don't know wear your watch around town and make calls on your mobile until you cancel it. ( Any part of the world )
Adjust to your area, If you look like a walking money pit, yes someone may tap you on the shoulder.
You can always be in the wrong place at the wrong time, if so you are screwed no matter what.
It's been said a million times but your safety is your responsibility,,,,
Pissed, can't stand up ?,,, yes you are open to the opportunity of having someone you don't know wear your watch around town and make calls on your mobile until you cancel it. ( Any part of the world )
Adjust to your area, If you look like a walking money pit, yes someone may tap you on the shoulder.
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
And I guess this doesn't prevent other moto riding guys from jacking your ass but I've developed a small group of "go to" motodops to take me around town. I pay them well and I try to be respectful. And I try my best to be careful but hey, sometimes it's just one too many before you head back home. On one particular "one too many" night, this guy that drives me around often took me out for a bowl of noodles and then practically carried me up to my hotel room while fending off some straggler types. He knew I'd be happy to pay him later on. When I met him a few days later with cash for ride + noodles, he told me that the noodles were his treat. Not big deal but it's nice to befriend as many people as possible I think . . .
This may sound dumb but I also try to pick up some small gifts(from another country) for the "guys". They've treated me well.
This may sound dumb but I also try to pick up some small gifts(from another country) for the "guys". They've treated me well.
wasabi,
I kind of agree with you on this, most days I mix well with both thieves and good guys, if I'm in one place for a long stay, I spend a bit of time with the guys that hang around my guesthouse, I don't give them all my trade, but enough to make it in their interest to ensure I get home ok.
I don't pay them more than what the ride is worth, but I'll sit and chat when things are slow, ended up in some rather unusual places with these guys.
Sometimes I'll treat them to a meal from the local vendor or a few smokes before I run out of duty free stuff from home, nothing big, but they take care of me when I'm a bit untidy.
It's like insurance, you have to have it, but you hope to never need it.
I kind of agree with you on this, most days I mix well with both thieves and good guys, if I'm in one place for a long stay, I spend a bit of time with the guys that hang around my guesthouse, I don't give them all my trade, but enough to make it in their interest to ensure I get home ok.
I don't pay them more than what the ride is worth, but I'll sit and chat when things are slow, ended up in some rather unusual places with these guys.
Sometimes I'll treat them to a meal from the local vendor or a few smokes before I run out of duty free stuff from home, nothing big, but they take care of me when I'm a bit untidy.
It's like insurance, you have to have it, but you hope to never need it.
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
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If their families used to get money from another source that has since been cut off, they might resort to crimewasabi wrote:Anybody have any "serious" opinions?
Has there been any type of income that was being pumped into the economy that has now dried up?
Do the trials of the khmer rouge have anything to do with it?
Why aren't the ngo's making subsistence payments to people?