Why do Bkk shopping malls have guards and metal detectors?

[runner]

One of them just shone a torch on the surface of the towel in the top of my holdall. They didn't care about the ipad or assortment of other electronic equipment underneath it and the metal detector didn't pick it up.

[runner]

I just tried walking in the exit at Paragon with my holdall. Guard didn't even notice haha

[runner]

At least they are better organised inside. Just queued in Gourmet supermarket for 10 minutes because only 4 tills open. There are 10 or so bagpackers stood around with nothing to do. This place is fun

[runner]

Sat watching the security guys now. When they get a surge of people they unclip the side barriers to let them all in unchecked. They are more scared of losing customers than of bombs. An arab guy with a long beard just wheeled a suitcase in unchecked. Time to leave

[thaimeme]

It's all a part of the extended theatre.

[david44]

Like the markets built an unused.

Imagine you live i Thailand
Imagine you understand how things work
Imagine your brother got contract for Installation,Airport Rail,Bomb scanners,Freeway to Don Muang etc
Imagine you were important enough to be immune from laws and taxes

Many things that have no public benefit or rationale occur,If you follow the money it becomes easier to fathom.

[Neverna]

Runner, you have 2 possible answers:

1. Show. Like many things in Thailand, you ave to look the part. It matters not that anything works or works well, just that you can see it. Examples: Meetings with nobody listening, laws that most people ignore, no entry signs that people pass without a thought.

2. The Thai twist: doing things the Thai way. Example: Democracy - don't Think of western democracy, think of Thai democracy. Now you have met Thai security.

3. Budget: Someone paid for the metal detector and by golly it's going to be used. (Unfortunately the budget didn't extend to staff training).

4. The 'P' factor. Here 'P' is a Poo yai, a senior person. 'P' instructed someone beneath him to sort out security to international standards. (Unfortunately the definition of 'international' wasn't provided to the junior members of staff. Junior members of staff await 'P' for further instructions. 'P' is busy with other things).

5 (a). 'Runner' is white and everyone knows white people are not terrorists.

5 (b). 'Runner' is a woman and everyone knows women are not terrorists.

5 (c). 'Runner' doesn't look like a terrorist, and we all know what they look like.




* If you are confused by "2 possible answers" in my introduction, please re-read option 17. (Option 17 is the 2 bottles of Leo factor).

[runner]

I get number 1, the show factor. They aren't trying to prevent terrorists, they are trying to show their rich customers that they are in safe hands.

[snakeeyes]

To stop people from robbing the gold shops ,

[Cujo]

Looks like Smeg's back in Thailand.

[pseudolus]

They are there to be used on the 90% of thai yoofs who are knife carrying scumbags. Introduced with good intentions to stop the ill educated shit heads stabbing and shooting each other in shopping malls, like most things in thailand where people have to take responsibility for their actions the guards realised they will still get paid if they dont bother checking so they don't.

[Slipstream]

They are there to be used on the 90% of thai yoofs who are knife carrying scumbags. Introduced with good intentions to stop the ill educated shit heads stabbing and shooting each other in shopping malls, like most things in thailand where people have to take responsibility for their actions the guards realised they will still get paid if they dont bother checking so they don't.

Yeah but they don't even check folk when the buzzer goes off! LOL

[Perota]

If I remember correctly a few years ago they were a couple of bomb scare in Bangkok, that's when they start to have these detectors everywhere. The threat disappeared but the detectors stayed.

[runner]

An old woman was boredly shining her torch at the EXTERIOR of the occasional bag at MRT sukhumvit yesterday lol

[terry57]

Its gives someone a job mate.

That's all its good for.

Walk a fookin Tank into Paragon and they would not notice.

[Davis Knowlton]

Its gives someone a job mate.

.

Precisely. Employ the unemployable. I've carried a concealed firearm for over a decade here, and they found it twice. Once at the 5 Star Manila Hotel and once going into the Palace when I forgot I had on an ankle rig.