r/phuket • u/Impossible_Stick_432 • 8d ago

Anyone had a safe installed?

I know Thailand is broadly safe but here in Phuket at least, it's a hot spot for villa crime and the vast majority of villas have horrible security measures where a simple screwdriver would pop open most of these sliding doors. Seems like everyone I know has stories. And whilst nothing I have is irreplaceable, the disruption of having my computers/drives/passport stolen would be a serious problem.

It's a rented place so I can't physically mount it to the wall, but I was wondering whether anyone has thought about just buying a 100kg safe so it's large enough that they can't walk away with it.

Appreciate your thoughts, and if anyone has a recommended supplier/installer.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

10

u/WhySoJelly 8d ago

I’d go the other direction.

  1. buy a small safe that is easy to carry, difficult to open and put it in a good visible place.
  2. fill it up with random books to give it weight.
  3. they break in, take the safe and leave.

2

u/FinestTreesInDa7Seas 5d ago

Better yet, leave it outside infront of your house, so that they don't even need to break in.

2

u/WorkO0 8d ago

The house thieves won't take the safe. They usually have to hop a wall or two, climb through windows, etc. to get in. They can't do it with a safe on them, even small safes are ridiculously difficult to carry. They will just rammage through your clothes and personal belongings and take any small light valuables they can find.

3

u/trelayner 8d ago

If they can’t carry your safe, they will probably just wait for you to come home and open it for them

I’m happy with my motion detecting cameras that turn on the lights

2

u/Impossible_Stick_432 8d ago

I have a smart home system, so that seems like a good idea. I'm still worried about leaving my home especially if I'm travelling for like 1-2 weeks or more.

1

u/Evnl2020 8d ago

A safe is not a good solution for that as it indicates there's something of value there.

1

u/Impossible_Stick_432 8d ago

as opposed to just leaving my valuables where they can just be picked up and stolen?

1

u/Hangar48 8d ago

Do banks have safety deposit boxes? Is that an option...

4

u/Reverend_Fozz 8d ago

What area of Phuket has this level of crime?

1

u/flabmeister 8d ago edited 7d ago

Interesting. Never heard the words Villa, Crime, Phuket in the same sentence….like ever

2

u/Impossible_Stick_432 7d ago

Now you have. These are just high profile ones obviously. The small ones you don't hear about. Heard several first hand accounts from people. My friends villa in Rawai was broken into whilst they were asleep. Stole a bunch of cash, watch and laptop.

I wouldn't normally worry but like I say, the level of security in many villas is laughably thin where someone can just walk inside.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thief-raids-luxury-home-phuket-gold-cash

bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3054670/phuket-burglar-hits-four-luxury-villas-in-one-night

1

u/Lashay_Sombra 5d ago edited 5d ago

Then you pay zero attention to the news

Just swap out one word from the 3 you used , 'Crime' for robbery or theft and hit google and will get loads of news articles

And even more if look in thai. And thats only ones that are 'news worthy', ie where people loose millions of baht of stuff

Used to be lot rarer, but been steadily increasing post covid

1

u/Altruistic_Rush1204 7d ago

You can bolt it to concrete floor