Comments on: Robbed! Sticky Fingers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport

By: Sanaya Bharucha

Sanaya Bharucha — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 15:05:56 +0000

I was searching the net to see if anyone else had experienced security theft at Thai airports . My friend had 17000baht, his watch and all this credit cards stollen from a zipper pouch on his carry on at PHUKET international. They had scanned his bag twice – clearly the second time was to relieve him of his valuables. The airport security were not at all helpful, refused to show us the first scan when the watch was in the bag, kept showing us an image without the stuff….insisting that my friend had lost his stuff else where. We dug our heels in, asked for the police, I dropped “embassy” ” social media” and even announced that we will miss our flight but we will not leave till we see the scans + police complaint against all 4 ladies handling that machine.
At one point one security guard came and showed scans and his watch did showed up in one image. After that that person never returned. Then towards the end of our 1 hour ordeal they asked to check his fellow travelers bags (to see if WE had it)! So they put all our bags through the scanner along with his.
They refused to let me photograph the 4 thieves (all hand in glove) at that machine.
By then the airline staff arrived- she spoke better English and advised – either we board or go to police station to complain. Are you kidding me! For one hour we were asking for the police.
Anyway we said we will report this, took the official complaint website details, told them they were not nice people and a disgrace to the Thai people. In shock we boarded our flight home.
Mood totally put off. Replaying every step questioning, self doubt, discussing the scan images etc.
When we landed my friend says “I have a feeling that when they took our bags in the end to scan all, the thief must have put the stuff back.” He checked that compartment and it was empty. But upon opening the main flap… the watch ALL money on the clip and cards had been thrown in!!!
My friend travels the world and this is his routine at security checks- we were so shocked and stunned that he got his stuff back… first word out of my mouth for them :b@st@rds!

I am 100% sure they have done thus before and gotten away with it. All were in on the scam thats why the airport security police did nothing to help.
The fact that we said we would miss the flight, complain to pl
Police ( noting the time and xray machine number) was probably why they put it back knowing this will blow up for them.

The violation! And from security! Pathetic!

I hope your story had a happy ending.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:37:52 +0000

Sad News but no suprise most Thais will rob at the drop of 1 baht and need to be taught a lesson in manners. They are useless also with no morals or values. There Buddha preaching ois all rubbish and have never known god or even helped each other. This Is BKK and Chonburi cukture against falang. There the only country in the world that call you falang. They think they are special although can not speak English or show any eduacte. They jail people for speaking the truth and evey government is corrupt regardless of stature.

I do not trust or give any opportunity to rob. I had my mothers engraved ring stolen by one of these rats and I would happily burie the Thai that took it

Scum of society sorry keep punching KARMA 🙂

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:23:41 +0000

In reply to Tim.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Tim. This is terrible, yet unsurprising.

Regarding reporting your experience. I tried AOT (Airports of Thailand) as an official complaint. I do not have a contact, but think I just send an email to some address on their website. I received no response. Also, you might also try sending a message to the editors at the Bangkok Post. I did that, too but never received a response there either. You might also want to write a letter to the Thailand Ministry of Tourism. Unfortunately, the options aren’t great. However, if you do write or contact any of these organizations and receive a reply, I would be grateful if you’d share with us what you’ve heard.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:00:24 +0000

In reply to Daniel Noll.

The same thing, very nearly, happened to my girlfriend about 4 days ago changing onto a connection flight at Bangkok airport (hand luggage) security.

she put her bags through and waited for collection the other side, they asked whose bag was “this” and it being hers she stepped forward. I was beside her.

One bloke (mid to late 20s) preceded to open the bag and rummage and pull things out, he took out her jewellery box and her purse and a few other things and walked off with them, out of site. She called after him that he’s not allowed to search her stuff out of her eyesight (as he could be doing anything!) but he ignored her and slowly riffled through (showing others) her jewellery box and purse .

When he came back he shoved things back in the bag and hurried her on…”all done, ok, bye, go, bye, hurry up…” she (wisely) noticed the lack of her purse (containing £60 English cash and her debit card) and said, “hang on, where’s my purse!!!!!!!!”

He feigned innocence and just tried to her hurry her along, after her persistence of questioning where her purse had gone he lifted up his paperwork to reveal her hidden purse which she grabbed and walked off…

we had no time to go and see anyone as we had 20 minutes to get our connection and I envisaged me throttling someone and ending up in jail!

I do however have an exact (ish) time and date and a rough description of the culprit(s)

Who would I report it to though?

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 09:06:11 +0000

In reply to Sanndune.

Sanndune, I’m sorry if my writing did not make this clear. I am 100% certain that the money was stolen there by Bangkok airport security employees. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind. And Bangkok airport security managers confirmed it there on the spot after I made the accusation. Not to mention, I received a wire transfer from a personal bank account in Thailand in the amount that I claimed was stolen.

For the details, check out the second article in this series, if you haven’t already:
https://uncorneredmarket.com/robbed-redux-sticky-fingers-suvarnabhumi-airport/

By: Sanndune

Sanndune — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 08:59:17 +0000

Daniel,
Sorry to hear what happened to you. I am currently writing a book about airport security TSA in the US and Thailand. I will have to change it up a little now after reading your story.
But, you are not sure that the money was stolen there, are you? Just because she was seen doing something suspicious doesn’t automaticaly prove she is guilty. Some of them are thieves yet many are honest. If she did it she will most likely lose her job.
But, anyway, I would like to know the outcome of the investigation. I’ve lived in Thailand 14 years now and never had anything stolen from me.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:34:04 +0000

@Woojin: Good to hear. Keep us posted on any future funny business at BKK.

By: Woojin

Woojin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:11:00 +0000

Today airport was busy with many farangs possibly due to a peaceful election but I’m pleased to say apart from the Jetstar check-in scam, I re-entered the Kingdom without any intimidation, shake down or hassles from Immigration.

Woohoo, nice birthday present. In Thai tradition or Buddhist style perhaps my luck is changing!

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:01:37 +0000

@Michel: I think Woojin is right. It is the way it is and people have more or less accepted it. His advice of keeping cool and helping those in uniform not lose face…that’s the way, for better or worse.

Having said that, I suspect the best route to try and expose this is through the media, by emailing the news editors of major newspapers throughout Southeast Asia and giving them this link. If you can find some email addresses, I’ll be happy to send the email. In the meantime, I’ll do some searches when I get a chance.

@Woojin: You’ve offered the best pieces of advice: be aware, maintain a sense of humor, never lose your cool.

By: Woojin

Woojin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:29:48 +0000

@Michel

I don’t take it seriously now.

Everyone knows Suwarnabhumi airport is one big zoo and a might scam and that pretty much everything is scamable.

But it’s funny, I was telling my friends Suwarnabumi is no different to Datong Beach, Patpong, Pattaya, Koh Samui or Nana Plaza.

In fact it’s more comical because it’s done under the auspices of authority. Classic was yesterday, X-ray bozo asked me to take out my wallet and valuables and put in the tray.

I smiled at him and said my wallet does not have any metal. I said ‘as you wish’, put everything into my carry bag and locked it with THB60 lock and asked him if he was happy, then watched all my bags pass thru the complete scanning process.

Essentially where their is nectar there are bees. Temptation is too greet. All those clueless GBP, USD, EUR, SGD and AUD floating thru the toll gate, can you blame them (being AOT) for figuring out ways to work the system and getting a piece of the pie.

Another classic, I had the other Jetstar passengers from Singapore who missed their flight, ask if there was a departure tax. Made me think someone in Thai tights could easily demand THB 500 departure tax from each of them.

EOD just need to keep cool, smile and slide your way thru. I was reading about Belgian boy who spent some time in the ‘Bangkok Hilton’. He observed the only farang ‘refugees’ who ended up there, were ones who lost their head and made the guys in uniform lose face.

@Dan

Even though they hassle me, I laugh as I know I’ve really pissed off or worried AOT. I have essentially put their best stealer (Indo boy) out of work!