there has been a change in story.

The couple were reported by the police as being stopped by airport security guards as they went to board an aircraft. King Power say it happened at an airport restaurant and by their security staff with police. Hmmmm.

Also, King Power say their security staff approached the woman at her table but the guy suspect was allowed to get up and walk away to the toilets followed only by King Power's security team (not the police) and that they subsequently found the purse in a bin outside the toilet (they did not observe him put it in the bin). Why would they even look in the bin if they did not see him put it in there?

Sorry, it sounds like King Power are bent as hell.

It has to be a fake / contrived video by King Power.

If you look on their explanation page here you will see a link at the bottom to their first explanation Shoplifting 1st Case Explanation; I did not see this before / realise they had changed their explanation. OK, so take a close look at BOTH videos; notice any similarities between the western male shopper in both stores??!! It is the same guy right? BUT, in their 1st Case Explanation (they got the Internet warnings / reports wrong - they did not understand which alleged case of shoplifting it was about), it was not the western shopper who was shown to be the thief but a "Malaysian".

So the innocent western shopper in the shoplifting case by a "Malaysian" is also the same guy being part of a shoplifting in a different King Power store??!! This guy is a King Power stooge right? An actor?

Give me a break!

I read your post earlier today Shanek and downloaded and read the King Power reply. I was thinking to myself - Yes, there's usually another side to the story. Then a few hours later i checked my email box and found this:

Yeah I read about another case about a month ago where a guy bought a 200 carton of ciggies in King Power and the girl dropped a packet of twenty in the bag.

He thought it was a promotional gift and left the shop. He was immediately arrested for shop lifting and went through the same.

He protested that he couldn't have stolen them as they don’t sell in twenties but a scam is a scam and the truth makes no difference, he had to pay.

Looks like its rife so the lesson is, keep your bag firmly closed and guard your pockets once through immigration and be careful if you buy anything from King Power.

Pass the word around.

__________________
The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

We are heading to Thailand in November. We are taking our one year old beautiful blonde, blue eyed baby. We are getting married there, which has all been organised. All this stuff about Thailand is freaking me out. I havent been overseas before, let alone with a baby. I was not worried and had done quite a bit of research about travelling with a baby, but as the date nears and i hear more and more negative stories am kinda freakin. We were thinking of getting a babysitter for the wedding night, but i am very reluctant to do that now as it seems there are alot of scammers and people who cant be trusted. I wouldnt forgive myself if anything happened to my son. I know it may be only a few bad people giving the place a bad name, but just lately it seems to be happening more and more. Should i be worried..... we are travelling from australia and going to phuket and koh samui with a three day stop over in singapore on the way home. Any comments??? Please to put my worried mind to rest. :( Many thanks.
Lulu

You have booked, you have paid, there are thousands of tourists who do not get afflicted. Stay out of the duty free shops in Bangkok. Do not give anyone cause to think you have attitude. Do not bring in over your allowance into Thailand. It seems clear King Power have damaged their own reputation and it is that, not the cause of justice, which is motivating them; just look at their explanations.

I have spent many happy times in Thailand and am sure your trip will be great too. There seems to be certain corrupt scams going around at the moment and the good thing is you know about them so you can steer well clear of them. In itself I think King Duty Free is a scam as it holds the monopoly for Bangkok; their goods are over-priced IMHO and you will be doing yourself several favours by staying away from their shops. Get past the airport and the customs and duty free corruption and you will be styling. The other problems you hear about Thailand are really specific to certain bars, their removing governments from office, the Muslim south, Myanmar boat people and how Thailand is now mistreating foreign residents. Although very, very bad these will not affect you.

A buddy used to joke they should put up a sign up at Phuket Airport "Sawasdee Kar, thank you for coming to Thailand, please put your wallets in this container and have a nice flight home". So go, spend your money, enjoy, avoid the airport problems and everyone will have a good time. Due care regarding a young child is ALWAYS a good thing in ANY country.

The problem for me is now I would not want to go to Thailand (unless I had already booked and paid) not out of concerns for being extorted (as I would avoid the problems) but out of principle. As you have booked and paid I say "Go, have a great time, I am 100% sure you will be fine as you know what to avoid.".

is not isolated at all;

Dr. Angela Norris Vs King Power

Did not see report but CCTV is quite revealing and do not see how it can be misunderstood
Prior to my retirement I was in the retail security business and the majority of people aprehended with goods in pockets/bags were innocent and we were hassling them as they meant to go back into store to pay for them . Yea !!!!!

BobMac, There is CCTV footage of this other case as well that clearly shows a man taking a pack of cigars from the counter. There is a link provided labelled "shoplifting 1st case explanation"

__________________
I love Thailand this much

There's a letter in today's Bangkok Post "postbag" warning about these airport "scams". However, it seems to be repeating the warnings already given on this forum last week. The real injustices seem to happen after the Thai police get involved and huge sums are extorted.

I have no idea what is going on. But I do know when my wife and I pass through Bangkok airport next month we'll be steering well clear of King Power Duty Free shops. And I suggest everybody else does the same until this issue is finally resolved.

__________________
The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

That is a very harsh and in my opinion, irresponsible thing to say.

King Power has been the victim of theft and you advise people to stay away from them? If someone stole from you, would you advise the police and expect them to deal with it? It is how that this case has been dealt with by the police that is in question, not the ethics of King Power and even this is still heresay. Your advice should be "Do not steal anything from King Power Duty Free"

__________________
I love Thailand this much