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Gunpoint robbery in BKK1
For those of you who did not see my posting on the Parents Network, here is a reminder to not let your guard down as far as we did:
On December 19, my wife and I, who have lived in Cambodia without incident for over two years, decided to walk with our female houseguest along Street 51 from Street 278 to our house on Street 370 at 11:30 p.m. Our houseguest had a handbag with her, which I didn’t object to as we left the house because I expected we would be taking tuk-tuks the entire evening.
As we got to the corner of St. 51 and St. 322, our friend was walking a few paces ahead of us. Suddenly, three young men on a moto came extremely close and cut us off at the corner. One pulled out a large semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at me – the only male, and presumably the only one who might attempt to intervene in the robbery – in a manner that left little doubt in my mind that I was about to be shot to guarantee that I wouldn't cause trouble. My wife and I ran a few feet away from the thieves as they wrestled the handbag from our friend and then fled with a very good haul.
The entire incident was over in less than 10 seconds. The thieves did not try for my wallet, the tiny bag my wife had under her scarf and that they probably did not see, nor did they try for jewelry. Afterwards, a few security guards came by, shook their heads and went back to their posts.
We have reported the incident to the US Embassy and will file a police report if necessary for our friend’s insurance. Any recommendations as to other places where the incident should be reported are welcome.
In any case, this should be a reminder to us all that Phnom Penh is not the safe haven we convince ourselves that it is, and that at the minimum you should never walk or ride a moto with a handbag. This incident, in which thankfully only money, our sense of comfort in Phnom Penh, and our friend’s hope of an enjoyable vacation were lost, could have ended far, far worse.
nhweinstein, sorry to hear of this, however many people have been posting for several months that robberies are on the increase and bkk 1 is a hot spot.
have a search for robberies on the forums particularly bad is the area around the market and gasolina bar.
glad you escaped with only material possessions taken and no injuries.
bkk 1 is notorious for robberies.
as bkk1 is seen as an affluent area many criminals seem to target foreigners living there. it may sound cynical but the area you live in, in reality is quite possibly, the breeding ground for corruption in cambodia. many high level "untouchables" live in this area and quite possibly either lower level staff employed by these people quite likely are involved in these crimes. their ability to move around these areas and disappear with out a trace would suggest that maybe a door is opened for them very soon after the attacks.
with all the un and other major corporate and non profit senior management living in the area i am sure that with some meetings among residents security could be beefed up there at night. why are there no night time police patrols in bkk 1 when everyone knows its a hot spot?
maybe the "untouchables" really are
but then again at 11:30pm at night after living here for two years - maybe its time to take off those rose colored glasses. curious - what does a house in bkk 1 cost a month now?
I'm disappointed to hear, yet again, that this happened in our quiet little neighbourhood.
I'm disappointed to hear, yet again, that a gun was pointed by the assailants in someone's face.
I'm disappointed to hear, yet again, that there was no "police" presence (moreso considering BKK1 Police Station is located 2 or 3 houses up from the corner of Paster/St 51 on St 322, right where your mugging occured - a street where most of the expat-related muggings occur). Mind you, it doesn't surprise me, as I believe BKK1 police station only has 2 cops on the job on any given night - and definitely none on the street in the area where most of these crimes against foriegners are occuring.
I'm comforted to hear that there were NO shots fired, as was the case in one of the two muggings I've experienced in this most dangerous of towns I've been living in (the first mugging, I was punched in the face............. twice................).
BOTH MUGGINGS, some 16 months apart, occured on the corner of Sts 310 and 51, at a not-unreasonable time of night....... 10.45pm.......... Most importantly, and also distinctly related to your experience, prior to BOTH muggings I'd just left Golden Street (St 278) 4 or 5 minutes earlier having exited one of the Expat-frequented facilities (the first time, a massage/spa place, the second time I'd departed Elsewhere). I WAS NOT displaying anything, nor "flashing" anything around (as I've since been told I was apparently doing). Nor had I been "spending up big", nor "causing a cufuffle or ruckus", nor had I had my computer "out in public view". Nada, non, nein, HeT.
The possessions that I was ambushed and had a gun shoved in my face for, were all concealed in rather normal non-descript bags (there were 2 bags, one on top of the other on my shoulder - both hung on to tightly with my opposite hand).
But that is what's similar to your houseguest - I was carrying a bag.
Albeit the first mugging, it was hooked to the moto under my legs, and later double "lashed" around my forearm as I was undoing my gate astride my moto. During the second mugging, the small handbag was under the non-descript grass bag I mentioned above. The second mugging I was accompanied by a friend, a male, who kindly offered to get me to my gate in a tuktuk "because it's a dangerous city" (ironically he said this a mere 5 minutes before the actual event).
The first mugging, the assailants got nothing as they'd dragged me off my stationary bike, gate-side as I was unlocking it, into the middle of the road and punched me for the bag they viewed on my arm. The assailant couldn't get it off, so he brutally punched a woman twice in the jaw. His accomplice was awaiting the "cache" on a idling moto. It wasn't until I screamed to the heavens that people came running and this frightened the thieves away. Nothing was broken on/in my face, thankfully, but I ended up with a jaw-line that looked like the Bride of Frankenstein. I am stating this as many people believe this will not happen to them, or that this is not a violent people. It can. and they are (some, not all, but this fact has a tendency to tarnish my wariness of many).
Something we should all consider, and that I was directly advised by the Australian Embassy after my second mugging: Someone, or "someones", watch the expats. Always.
Is it merely "coincidence" that your experience and my experience occured within 30 paces, on the same street having come from the same locale? (Me thinks not!).
For me, both of these experiences have occurred after leaving Golden St (278) at 10.40is- pm, going south down Pasteur, 1 block from your experience, at 10.45pm - BOTH of them!!! At first, I thought it may have had something to do with the experiences occuring on or near a West to East Monivong thoroughfare.......... but I doubt that now having read of your terrible experience. The Aussie Embassy told me, cate-blanche and unequivocally, ALL EXPATS ARE TARGETED HERE and that I DID NOTHING "WRONG" behaviour-wise on both of those evenings. I am merely an expat, and a female, and therefore a more vulnerable target. Your experience confirms that there are criminals out there at night "hunting" for people like you and I.
I have also been advised that men are equally targeted as your unfortunate experience confirms (albeit they didn't take anything from you, they did take my companions wallet) and like you, it was over within, maybe 10 or 15 seconds, at most. It was but a mere 5 or 6 months ago that a British man was shot twice and was flown back to the UK for surgery from the implications of how and where the second bullet entered his body, with permanent injuries now from those bullets.
As any of us who live and work here, very humbly and very respectfully, may concur, it's not uncommon to finish work late-ish (moreso if you're a teacher in a language school or university where lessons conclude at 8pm), go for some dinner somewhere, log-on in an internet cafe or a restaurant/bar that has wifi (as Elsewhere does, be it that it's behind a high wall so anyone on the street cannot see you dong this), and then proceed home after 10pm. I do realise mhweinstein that this occured to you on a Saturday evening, a night which is even more common for foreigners to let their hair down and be out just that little bot later than usual.
I really feel for you all. I can completely understand how shocking this experience is and I want you to know that my thoughts are with you all, as each of you has a different part in this overall experience, yet bound by the reality that it did happen.
You may want to look at these other posts - and I hope that collectively our Embassies and other Embassies put the pressure on the "appropriate" people who benefit from having foriegners here. This city needs more police presence in these areas. For goodness sake, Siem Reap doesn't have these same types of crimes. It has many tourists there, and has the appropriate police presence there yet I wonder how many more foreigners live in Phnom Penh.......... I would hedge a bet that there's more here than foreign tourists nightly in Siem Reap!
Those links are (my 2nd mugging is the discussion in the robbery-bkk-1 link, which I haven't yet posted on - but I may link it to here so there's some synchronicity/concurrency to them):
* http://www.expat-advisory.com/forum/asia/cambodia/-phnom-penh-pub-expats...
-and-
* http://www.expat-advisory.com/forum/asia/cambodia/-phnom-penh-pub-expats...
A footnote for you to "file away to the keeper" - I was told by my landlady, a very well-known, highly-respected professional Khmer woman, (she truely is lovely and I am glad she's been the "rock", the strong woman, that she is and has been for me during these traumatic experiences) that she was contacted by the local constabulary the day the Cambodian Daily ran the article concerning my mugging. She confided in me that the local constabulary had asked her to stop me from saying what I had said about the country (I was quoted as saying it's "the most dangerous country I've ever been to"). Those same constabulary had stated that the Minister for Tourism had contacted them directly and is concerned by my comments, "as these comments get seen/read overseas". As I live in a highly concentrated expat area in what is "perceived" as being a "passive" country, I believe I have a fairly reasonable ability to discern between where I feel threatened and where I feel safe. I also believe I have a right to perceive what may be dangerous to/for me and for my life. I have lived abroad in London and San Francisco, downtown in both cases, as well as in Sydney. No, these cities are NOT Phnom Penh, quite obviously, and Yes, they ARE in the West. I do realise these crimes can and do happen anywhere, but mostly one must "go looking for them" in these western cities, or go to neighbourhoods where crimes "reliably" occur. Do we know they exist? Yes. Do we go there? No.
I have also travelled extensively in countries considered more dangerous than the west, such as Mexico, Romania, Turkey, Indonesia and within many other large urbanised cities throughout 4 continents.
Nowhere have I experienced being targeted, as a foreigner - a racial crime against me because of the perception of who I am. Some may say I was luncky before now. But I dont think of it as being lucky about not being mugged, but I do believe I was unlucky in these 2 experiences here in Phnom Penh. Bad timing, bad place. I am not ostentatious, nor am I ignorant. I am not disrespectful, nor am I apathetic. I was unlucky both of those evenings, as I was targeted for being a foreigner.
I do not lead a wild and debauched life as is often the case with (some) foreigners in this country, and I resent suggestions that one must have been disrespectful thus causing these crimes against foreigners. This is the most dangerous country I've been to and I am adamant in my opinion that this would NOT happen in Thailand against a "farang" nor would it happen in Vietnam. It does and would only happen here in Cambodia by default of the perception of who we are - and WE ARE targeted for this.
nhweinstein, I wish you and your companions a kindred and speedy "recovery" from this incident. I do not wish this terrifying and traumatising experience on ANYONE and can truely empathise with you all about the night concerned, as well as about the hours, days, weeks that will follow getting over it. I am glad for your houseguest's sake that she has friends around her, as the aftermath of knwing it happened once (or twice) is certainly as daunting as the experience itself. It is but a mere 2 months since my own ambush experience and while some may feel I'm waffling on about all this, it can and does take time to deal with it - the internal trauma can creep up on and reveal itself in a surprising number of ways, So much moreso as there's too much banter amongst expats about what should and shouldn't be done, was and wasn't done, can and can't be done - almost to the expense of blatent acceptance - when really, we should all be speaking with our Embassy to do more to pressure the police into having a presence. It is just not accceptable that this country accepts US$980,000,000 in this fiscal year - from who??? International governments and NGO's, yet no one has the courage to speak up about the dangers of living here. For the sake of us all - Khmers and foreigners alike, civil ordinance, gun control and violence is still raging out of hand. You only have to look at the Phnom Penh Post's daily Police Blotter and see the violent types of crimes people do to each other here.
This country deserves to be developed the way it "perceives" itself to be, what with big buildings and escalators and malls and fast-food outlets (!!!!!) into an "international city" in a Royal Kingdom, and not keeping it minus a century or two as some ramshackled lawless village controlled by gangs and crime and blatent warfare.
Enough said by me for now, I've become somewhat "heavier" since these muggings (likely a cumulative effect). But I really do empathise greatly, deeply, with you and your companions, and hope you'll never experience this violence toward you again. From what I experienced, I wouldn't wish it on a single soul, although unfortunately my hopefulness that it won't occur to others is tainted by the realism of living in this city.
Take care, watch out for yourself and for others.
Who is going to pay for the extra police patrols? Why would you even trust them anyway (some of them beat my Khmer wife at 11.30 at night for no reason)? Why should the already underfunded police force put on extra patrols to protect wealthy foreigners who walk around with valuables late at night when Khmers are being robbed, often far more violently, all the time? Do the Khmers not deserve protection too? Phnom Penh is not a safe haven. If you think it is you really should not be living here. At the same time you need to remember that most Khmers are extremely honest, or at least that's my experience with my Khmer family.
dtm39, if you read all my post, you will see I wrote the following:
"I do not wish this terrifying and traumatising experience on ANYONE" (capitals clearly in my original post)
-and-
"For the sake of us all - Khmers and foreigners alike, civil ordinance, gun control and violence is still raging out of hand"
So, Khmers are robbing Khmers violently..........???!!! What is it you're saying dtm39????? I don't quite understand......... you're saying that there's a culture of violence here. That the people are a passively violent....... No????? But of course it's acceptable and expected to rob foreigners but not each other?
I personally wouldn't have said, and am not saying that dtm39, but I did recommend checking out Phnom Penh Post's daily Police Blotter, it's interesting yet really heartwrenching reading from time to time - just to cement one's ideas about what life's like here when something goes wrong. Really really wrong in the sociological sense.
Get off the grass dtm-you are a shocker.
Why cant we have police protection?
Why cant everyone have police protection?
There is obviously no shortage of money in the country.
And many barangs pay taxes and contribute to cambodia.
I am interested to read that the government does not want bad news stories told.
I just wish that our embassies were not such lily livered and stood up for us.
In australia nowadays local councils run security patrols night and day and it works.
For the cost of one lexie we could have we could have dozens of security teams running around BKK on motos at night.
The robbers are not the poor however,they can afford motos and guns.
the elite would not want their own children locked up,would they?
My experiences of dealing with the police, with a handful of exceptions, has been overwhelmingly negative.
They exist to extort money. There are always lots of police available at busy intersections to pull people over, take money from truck drivers etc.
I've been assaulted by the police in the middle of the day for refusing to stop for them. I was driving along Monivong with mirrors, helmet on etc. I have a licence. I committed no traffic infraction, in point of fact as the idiot jumped out in front of me to stop me there were 3 khmer youths with neither helmets nor mirrors driving up the wrong side of Monivong right by the policeman. Because I refused to stop and swerved around him I was belted over the arm with a billy club. It hurt like a bastard for several days and left a bruise. I should have gone back and clocked him.
My wife was hit by a tuk tuk driver one evening at approximately 8pm by St 240 as we refused to accept his offer of $3 to go to the Cambodiana Hotel. We walked away and got into another tuk tuk for a buck and a half and the first ape followed us mouthing obscenities at her in Khmer and as we drove off he punched her in the arm. It didn't leave a bruise but it was shock to both her and me. I restrained myself from jumping out and punching him back as not only did our tuk tuk pick up speed but she grabbed onto me begging me not to. We went straight to the nearest police station and our tuk tuk driver, an off duty policeman, told us that he could identify the man etc. The police had shut up shop for the night and were snoozing. They weren't interested. They were only interested the next day when we persisted with it and told them that we wanted compensation and they could have some of it. Suddenly they sprang into action and apprehended the man almost 24 hours later when everyone knew who he was, where he hung out with his tuk tuk buddies , (by Rubies/Tamarind for those interested - they're not such lovable chaps) and we had a reliable witness who worked in one of the diplomatic protection squads. The police negotiated compensation of $150 which neither I nor my wife wanted so we agreed the police could keep it all. Job well done.
A near neighbour was shot dead last year. Khmer. The police were good at posturing and driving around with radios blaring and taking photos of the blood on the floor. They didn't however do even basic police work such as conduct house to house enquiries to see if there were any witnesses who could describe the murderer. They don't bother collecting shell casings because they don't have proper forensics/ballistics facilities. I've heard they did next to nothing to investigate the shooting of the barang by Russian Market months ago.
The Keystone Cops look professional by comparison.
It must have been dreadful to have been robbed in the way Jane and the author of this thread have described it. I have lived here without any problem for a year and a half but would clearly re-assess if something like that happened to me. Obviously Cambodia has poor law enforcement and is occasionally dangerous. I don't like the types that hang around on st.278 and it's probably true that some of them have an eye out for people leaving at night, especially if they have seen them with valuables or if they look like they might be carrying valuables.
But let's not be alarmist, as an ex-pat in any developing country there is an element of risk attached as 99 times out of 100 ex-pats are wealthier than the local population, it is precisely because Cambodia is seemingly such as placid place that people let their guard down more than other developing countries I have been in. I have travelled in some of the same places Jane has been, and this is far from the most dangerous place. This city has also made great strides in terms of safety. When I first visited in 2000 you were strongly advised not to walk anywhere after dark due to the amount of people with access to firearms and there were few bars and restaurants that stayed open late. We are not 'all being targeted', but there are popular places in the city where foreigners are being watched for an easy opportunity for a robbing. However there are plenty of bars and restaurants throughout the city to go to, if you feel somewhere is dodgy steer well clear. I know of very very few ex-pats here that have suffered the type of incident described here, obviously if it happens to you your entire perspective changes, but all I can say is that from my experience this is not as widespread as some of this thread makes out. All developing world cities contain an element of risk, keep your guard up but if you feel too much under threat then it is time to move on.
Hold it! Who are you kidding that western expats are wealthier? There are Bongs with a grade school education driving around in cars that I will never be able to afford. Westerners are easy targets, because Bong knows there will no retribution in comparison to attacking a wealthy Bong. Besides never happen, most well to do Bongs are well protected and or well armed and just as ruthless as the guys who are intimidating the expats here. In some cases they are ones doing the robberies, if not the cops themselves or the kids of somebody powerful.
Every Westerner is a potential target here and you are right about one thing you are being watched, but if you think you you are not being targeted? You are next!
Another thing it is more widespread than you may imagine, as it is not reported to any authority or the papers. The only crimes in the PPP or CD are Bong rapes his daughter or shots himself or machetes the kids next door.
If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
- Sun Tzu, the Art of War
I wouldnt mind so much being robbed by the poor.
It is getting robbed by the rich that gets up my nose.
I believe that most of the robbers are rich kids who live in or around BKK1.
Lets face it all the poor khmers get robbed by the rich every day,no health system,crap schools etc etc
Addendum to my last post, and in response to your post Marklatham, the guys that ambushed my friend and I were reasonably well/modernly dressed and on new motos - that is, 5 healthy-framed guys on 3 motos with the 3 guns that we knew of.
An ambush.
They had their guns pointed at us before they'd even dismounted their motos:-
point / dismount / run toward me with gun pointed in my face / grapple for 1st bag off my shoulder / realise there's another bag so struggle to hold the 1st bag under his arm, shot at 2 o'clock over my shoulder into the tuktuk's water bottle as trying to get the 2nd bag off my shoulder (intentional or unintentional...... will never be known) / grab second bag / jump back on motos / race off / 1 more (intentional) shot back at my friend and I from 50metres or so up the street = all done within less time than it takes to get out of a stationary tuktuk, say goodbye to friend, key already inhand to open one's double-locked gate.............
For Watertitcow, I'd say you're being a little blase about this, for there are many women and men who are just living their life simply yet cautiously, and doing the right thing at the right time to get home safely each night, moreso when we're accompanied by a compassionate friend. By suggesting people not be "alarmist" but then subtly contradicting yourself by saying people often let their guard down due to it being such a seemingly "placid place" suggests that you too believe it's dangerous here and it would be dangerous to think/act otherwise............... reading between the lines, you sound as though you know the danger is only ever just below the surface..........
Even when being vigilant about our own safety and that of others, we need to be constantly reminded that it can and does happen. You would be foolish not to think it here in Phnom Penh. This is not Siem Reap, there are no police sitting chatting and laughing with foreign tourists on every street corner. Making the city feel tourist-friendly.
It is Phnom Penh. Different feel.
The Australian Embassy Security advice to me after this incident was that we are all watched and we are all targeted. People in our neighbourhoods know who's who - they know who lives where, who works where, who comes and goes........... it's a big village. If you've been living here that long Watertitcow, you should know this about the Khmer culture - they make it their business to know who's who. People here watch other people - it's a national pastime. And people here share their information amongst their clique. Whether it's for their one-up-man-ship/status, barang info gets shared without you even knowing it. Who knows who gets a hold of that info? Surely you must realise this by now Watertitcow, having been here for a year and a half.
We are all watched. And talked about.
The Embassy told me that while they felt the ambush was not specifically directed at me - Jane - that they do occur far more frequently than we laypeople know of, and especially toward foreigners. Foreigners perceived as having something more than what the locals have. Irrespective of whether the foreigner does or doesn't have something more is all perception. And foreigners are disliked for it. Many are targeted for it. The Aussie Embassy was quite specific when they told me we foreigners ARE targeted, by default of what we represent.
All of us, as we are outsiders, immediately attract some attention.
I agree with Warhorse about this, and I think Watertitcow, in a roundabout way, you do too - if you think you are not being targeted, you will end up letting your guard down, and then you should be really careful.
you did say so yourself in your first post:
- I do realise these crimes can and do happen anywhere, but mostly one must "go looking for them" in these western cities, or go to neighbourhoods where crimes "reliably" occur. Do we know they exist? Yes. Do we go there? No.
OR GO TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE CRIMES "RELIABLY" OCCUR, indeed.
phnom penh as a whole seems to be a town where crimes reliably occur. just like you don't go to the wrong places in san francisco and london, why don't you do the same in phnom penh?
you're here, living and working here, so you must be aware of it all, not like some tourists who can't even be nice when locals warn them.
'tis indeed very easy for me to say this: stay home after dark! because i don't have to be out afterdark and i don't even like it (i'm a sun person, i die out as the sun sets). but all in all, what is it that keeps us outside after dark? pleasure.
we want to have dinner, see a film, go for drinks with friends, etc. (don't tell me you go out at night wandering the streets because it is so nice to walk out there!) so basically, we're out for a good time.
learn to change your views on what a good time is without having to be clubbed to death or shot at late in the evening.
start enjoying going out during the day, start enjoying a nice evening home with a book, and make sure you only go for drinks or restaurants during the day.
like it would never ever occur to me to go out in the bad neighborhoods in paris, it doesn't occur to me to go to BBK1 in the evening.
stay safe, stay home afterdark.
cm
(don't flame me for stating the obvious)
???????
Are you serious with this advice?
You can be mugged at night so stay at home always after dark?
Go to bars during the day?
I'm not flaming you, I am genuinely amazed at your advice. If, as you say, you don't like to do anything after dark, fine, that's your thing but you can't stay at home cowering in a corner because you might get mugged if you go out.
Yes it is pleasure which necessitates going out at night, a life without pleasure because of fear? No thanks.
I am glad you are happy to stay home, otherwise I may suggest you should move to Norway, it is safe there.
L
i admit i shortened the advice at the end of my post.
if you read the whole post, you will see that i say "stay away from dangerous places".
i enjoy staying home but i also do go out. i live on riverside, i go out there and i go out in bkk. i even ride my moto alone at night with a bag on my side.
but i keep my guard on.
bottom line is:
we all know PP is not a safe city; let's not go to the dangerous neighborhoods (like the end of street 57 as far as i can gather from reading EAS for a year now), let's not carry things we'd hate to lose like big sums of money (who, in their right mind, wants to walk around BKK1 with $1,000 in their handbag???) and so on.
and yes, when the festive times are around the corner, stay away from the dangerous streets (where muggings happen a lot) and stay away from the dangerous roads when everyone is going to or coming from the provinces and driving like mad.
or be prepared to face the consequences. with grace, if possible. and insurance, of course: medevac insurance above all.
catherine
I think Cambodia is a relatively safe place, once the number of daily robberies in the city starts getting counted in the hundreds or the tactic switches to shoot first take valuables second, that's when you need to start really loosing some sleep. As it stands like catching dengue fever, although common, you still need to be relatively unlucky to have it happen to you any given year.
I've been here seven year and luckily I've never been robbed, but I also grew up in a city where robberies whilst not on epidemic scales were not uncommon, so maybe my spidey senses were tuned before I arrived.
Case in point - 375,000 muggings a year in the UK
Here's an example of how attitudes change towards crime and how people almost reach the point of acceptance
There are plenty of things to loose sleep over in Cambodia, such traffic accidents, distance to the nearest decent A&E, the poverty the bottom 10% in this country endure, but the fact that you will probably be on the receiving end of a robbery at some point isn't one of them.
The other thing is to be aware of the trends, in the UK most robberies are carried out by pairs of muggers on foot using knives, and public transport vehicles, stops or stations are the most common venue, with robberies often in broad daylight. In Cambodia, most robberies involve a pedestrian as a victim, three or more robbers traveling by moto using guns and the venue is usually on or close to main roads with fast getaways, with most robberies (not bag snatches) happening at night. So I would say that by avoiding being a pedestrian at night, especially in areas known for robberies you will greatly reduce your chances of being a victim.
Also be careful of anyone following you on the way home when using moto's or tuk-tuks as a lot of foreigners seem to get robbed while paying a fare to a driver. So have the money ready for a quick exit and learn how to say in Khmer "jow dam yerng", if you think someone is following you.
I think Cambodia is a relatively safe place, once the number of daily robberies in the city starts getting counted in the hundreds or the tactic switches to shoot first take valuables second, that's when you need to start really loosing some sleep. As it stands like catching dengue fever, although common, you still need to be relatively unlucky to have it happen to you any given year.
I've been here seven year and luckily I've never been robbed, but I also grew up in a city where robberies whilst not on epidemic scales were not uncommon, so maybe my spidey senses were tuned before I arrived.
Case in point - 375,000 muggings a year in the UK
Here's an example of how attitudes change towards crime and how people almost reach the point of acceptance
There are plenty of things to loose sleep over in Cambodia, such traffic accidents, distance to the nearest decent A&E, the poverty the bottom 10% in this country endure, but the fact that you will probably be on the receiving end of a robbery at some point isn't one of them.
Like dengue fever, the best you can hope for is to lessen the risk.The best way to do this is to be aware of the trends so you can asses risk, in the UK most robberies are carried out by pairs of muggers on foot using knives, and public transport vehicles, stops or stations are the most common venue, with robberies often in broad daylight. In Cambodia, most robberies involve a pedestrian as a victim, three or more robbers traveling by moto using guns and the venue is usually on or close to main roads with fast getaways, with most robberies (not bag snatches) happening at night. So I would say that by avoiding being a pedestrian at night, especially in areas known for robberies you will greatly reduce your chances of being a victim.
Also be careful of anyone following you on the way home when using moto's or tuk-tuks as a lot of foreigners seem to get robbed while paying a fare to a driver. So have the money ready for a quick exit and learn how to say in Khmer "jow dam yerng", if you think someone is following you.
375 000 muggings and a national population in the 50 millions? yes, we're far from these figures here, when it comes to muggings, but there's also a lot less people living in cities and a lot less people altogether in the country.
whether cambodia is safer tnah leeds or southampton is irrelevant. just be careful out and about at night past midnight in the streets, specially if you're traveling on streets known for previous attacks.
take care,
catherine
Lots of good advice here.
This city is still a safe place compared to most western cities.
I think having a car is the best insurance along with getting to know the khmers in your neighbourhood.
We live opposite the BKK market and we know lots of the locals,I feel very safe here.
I also have the khmer fiancee and that brings a certain amount of protection as well.
Speaking khmer does no harm either.
The Wikitravel page on Phnom Penh has for a long time advised visitors (especially women) not to carry bags.
Snatchings & outright robberies are very common. Phnom Penh is not a safe city, & Cambodia is not a safe country. When we travel in the provinces we take a bodyguard with a pistol.
The Korjo stand at CityMart in Sorya Centre has a variety of alternatives to bags onsale - mostly bags you can put under various pieces of clothing.
Having said that, we all slip up sometimes, & I'm really glad nothing happened worse than losing a bit of cash...which is small beer considering the possibilities.
Bad luck.
I shudder when I see people walking late at night around BKK even on rue pasteur.
And women should not carry bags,it makes them a target.
I occasionally warn tourist women with shoulder bags or tourists with big cameras but they always pooh pooh me.
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I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member.