Not-so-flattering/"unconfirmable" facts on safety in Bangkok

[ttaaee]

The cities where you have most chance of being robbed, from the Daily Telegraph 23/3/03:

1: Kingston, Jamaica
"Crime against tourists is increasing despite government efforts."

2: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"Crime levels remain high, exacerbated by police corruption and inaction."

3: Cape Town, South Africa
"Street crime remains serious and guns are a part of everyday life."

4: Mexico City, Mexico

5: St Petersburg, Russia

6: Buenos Aires, Argentina

7: Bangkok, Thailand

8: Washington, USA

9: Rome, Italy

10: Athens, Greece

(From : Travel Safety Part I : Bugdog.com)
(http://www.bugbog.com/travel_safety/travel_safety.html)


I tried to cross-reference with the online version of UK Daily Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) and Australia Daily Telegraph (http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/index.jsp) . No such article was found on their archives.






The world's least safe streets:
[according to MoneyGram money transfer service]

1] Snake Alley, Taipei
2] Khao San Road, Bangkok
3] King's Cross, Sydney
4] Times Square, New York
5] Tverskaya Ulitsa, Moscow
6] Bois de Boulogne, Paris
7] Chandni Chowk, Delhi
8] Frenchtown, Shanghai
9] Las Ramblas, Barcelona
10] Stazione Termini, Rome

(From : Travel Safety part II : Bugdog.com (http://www.bugbog.com/travel_safety/travel_safety_2.html))

Again, I tried to fact-check with MoneyGram website (http://www.moneygram.com). I was unable to find such statement on its website.

Hmm... I'm wondering where they got these so-called facts from...

[admin]

Those are baffling stats... What we have noticed in the past that confuses people who make these lists is the fact that Thailand is near the top for credit card fraud. This is then simply interpreted as generalized 'crime' and thus pushes Bangkok to the top of lists of crime/dangerous cities. It's likely that the MoneyGram stats are really saying that credit card/money order fraud is high in the backpacker area of Khao Sarn Road.

[ttaaee]

That makes sense.

Phew...

[Kiku99]

i don't really think Bangkok is that dangerous especially compare to big American cities. i am living in America right now and trust me you wouldn't wanna walk alone at night even in the downtown area.
For Bangkok, you can walk around in many places even at night. of course you still should not walk alone in the dark alley. that's kind of common sense.

[yatyisam]

I have lived in Bangkok for almost two years, and have always thought it was very safe. "I've never heard of anyone getting mugged or robbed," I tell my farang guests.

But a Thai friend of mine was robbed on Silom Soi 7 last week. He said that the owner of a very popular Silom bar was also robbed at knifepoint in the past week.

Not sure what to make of this, but I hope it isn't a trend. Be careful out there!