Baby Snatching? (Not HH..Pattaya)

[prcscct]

Some really bad stuff this evening. Wife, her older sister and my 6 month old daughter decided to venture out to the Carrefour complex for some shopping, and my wife to get her hair cut. From the moment they arrived, they were dogged by (what they can determine) 2 Filipino males in sun glasses and 1 arab something or other..none spoke Thai or had a SEAsia accent. To the beauty shop...into Carrfour...downstairs and into the food court and, they sat 1 table away. My wife was so concerned, she picked up the baby and carried her to the counters to order the food, rather then roll her in her stroller. These guys were not interested in picking up girls....I am convinced they were interested in snatching my daughter. Well dressed, expensive watches, cell phones and ...sly...as it was explained to me. This is really bad stuff if accurate and I have no reason to believe it is not. No more going alone...I have no choice now but to accompany them, especially in the evenings. Pattaya more shit than ever. Pete

[Guess]

[Jaime]

All of the baby snatches that are making the news here (not many to be honest) seem to be undertaken by paedophiles rather than organised Spanish (!!!!????) gangs. You been on the Taboo again Guess?

Beats me why S. American gangs would be operating in London - I would have thought it far easier to pick up a child on the streets of Bogota.

Sad state of affairs though - every parent's worst nightmare - there are evil people out there so without getting too paranoid - BE VIGILANT PEOPLE!
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"The man who never made a mistake never did bugger all" - Old Welsh proverb

"Why limit yourself to the death of a crummy celery stalk when you can eat a giraffe?" - PWEETA

[Guess]

[dr dave soul monsta]

There are some very dodgy characters in Pattaya this scenario would not surprise me there one bit, the mention of an Middle Eastern type guy sets the scene perfectly (these people are untrustworthy and have a malicious religion)
Prescott you need to advise the wife to approach the store staff / security or police whenever she feels she may be in this situation again not only for her own safety but for the safety of other parents around these low life opportunists. This isn’t something new for Thailand it has occurred on many occasions before over the years... you are so correct to be very concerned …
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"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"

[VincentD]

I used to remember signboards prominently posted on Cha-Am beach many years ago warning of the same thing. Don't know if they're still there, haven't been back for a long while.
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วินเชนท์

[prcscct]

We reported it this morning Guess to the brother of my land lady here who is local police captain with considerable clout. As you say, I don't think much will happen. However, I/we will make future trips shortly to see if we can see these guys again. This includes the captain who said he would go in plain clothes.

Last night being followed into the food court was the 3rd straw and when they returned to their table, they simply left the food there and departed. Those men saw this so unless totally stupid, they know they were made. The girls rented a private baht bus with instructions to stop for no one and go directly to my house. Wife and baby in front with the driver.

No clue as to actual origin of the scum. They have no experience with accents or language outside of Asia. This is why they thought Filippino. All three were speaking together, even the Arab looking guy, but he could have been southern Philippines with strong malay features.

I've been looking at Lev's property pages with increased interest. I think 6 months or so it's time to get out of my beloved eastern seaboard, or at least far away from this particular place. Pete

[VincentD]

Pete

humans are creatures of habit. They'll probably be watching out again, it's not breaking the law to hang around a large shopping center.

Change your (and your wife's) habits and routines.

I have three different routes to and from work; I randomly choose from these, and sometimes with a variation on the theme. Avoid Carrefour, go to the Mom and Pop shop instead. Eat elsewhere, don't hang around the same places.

I know how it feels, I've got kids at a vulnerable age as well.

Be safe, be careful.
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วินเชนท์

[chelsea]

I know that this is not related to the above topic, but the reported race could be.
In the paper here is Australia it was reported that a group of about 6 middle eastern looking people were in one of the upmarket jewelers shops in BKK, looked at a very expensive looking necklace ($150,000 AUD) worth, distracted the shop assistant and then one of them made off with the necklace, while the rest left after them
It may have no relevance, but seems that if the certain race is correct, perhaps there may be a larger gang of them working across Thailand, all operating on different fronts.
May pay to keep any eye out for any signs of suspicious characters, as I do remember someone reporting on the board a couple of months ago a friend having money stolen from his accomodation and a report of the same race of people hanging around the hotel at the time.

[prcscct]

I'm a firm believer that every immigration computer in the world, at each and every gateway should be linked up to a central database with information if that person has a criminal record. Criminal record means some kind of felony. If the red light goes on at time of entry..off to the room you go explaining exactly why you are where you are, how long, what are you going to do etc. If the answers are not satisfactory..off to the departure lounge you go to use your return ticket immediately.

I know, an ACLU nightmare for those familiar with USA liberals.

Maybe some computer gurus on here know how close the world is to a system like this? Pete

[chelsea]

That does happen in the USA a lot and also here in Australia.
To get a visa into Australia, you have to disclose any criminal convictions on application of entry. I am sure in the US, that question is also asked on your card that you fill in on the plane before arrival.
I know of one person who went from to the US from Australia, declared no conviction and when he arrived at customs, was turned back becuase he had a conviction for drink driving.
Here in Australia that is classed as a criminal offence and treated the same way as any other conviction that you may have. It gives you a criminal record, the same as if you had commited an assault or robbery.

[lomuamart]

This one's getting a bit too deep for me. What's a crime that you should own up to and what isn't? If I've got a minor speeding fine from the UK that I've been found guilty of and fine paid, should that stop me from crossing a border. Or, more to the point, should I have to declare it?
Yes, a criminal record (and we don't really differentiate between misdemeanors and felonies in the UK) is one still the same. However, there are big differences in what you've done.
Others in this thread have referred to "races" of people. I think that's a dangerous road to go down. There's good and bad everywhere.
Back to Peter with the OP, hope your wife and child keep an eye out for any dodgy characters.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[jambo]

[caller]

It does in the UK as well, but after x period, its deemed as "spent", in other words shouldn't count against you, if nothing similar committed. But don't bank on it. It will be retained somewhere.

I'm always intrigued by comments about security, access, what can and cannot impact against you etc. and the naievity involved.

Goerge Orwell was only a few years out.

Just accept it, you can't challenge it, its not worth the stress.
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I know nothing

[Jaime]

Trouble with any sort of regulation that relies on voluntarily given information is that only the honest will provide the truth - same with tax credits, benefit fraud, bogus marriage visas etc. etc. Does anyone think a globe-trotting child abductor, possibly with fake pasport and multiple ID's is actually going to own up to past convictions?

On the distressing subject of child abduction (my blood is starting to boil as I type this) I saw a BBC documentary about the practice in China, where it is a huge problem due to the one-child system (now being amended for various reasons including child abduction). The programme followed the harrowing journeys of parents travelling vast distances across China to look for their stolen children, often simply following a wild goose chase. It was heart rending stuff. The sentences are stiff upon conviction of the kidnappers when caught - generally death. I am not generally an advocate of the death penalty but crimes of any kind against children are the lowest, most exploitative form of human activity in my opinion and deserve the most extreme sanction.

China is also not so far from Thailand and there is plenty of money sloshing around there at the moment.
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"The man who never made a mistake never did bugger all" - Old Welsh proverb

"Why limit yourself to the death of a crummy celery stalk when you can eat a giraffe?" - PWEETA