A PRE-DAWN rampage through a Phuket City apartment block by a man shouting ''I am going to kill you!'' has raised questions about the efficiency of the island's police.
The man, allegedly wielding a large knife, roamed a corridor of the stylish block early today with two other Thai men, attempting to kick in doors and threatening murder.
After the early-morning fracas at the Phuket Center Apartment, Phuket's Police Chief, Major General Pekad Tantipong, agreed that the Asean summit was stretching the island's police force, and that it was far too small to begin with.
Today's alarming disturbance also raised issues about the readiness of police to apply the law equally, in all circumstances, for cases involving both Thais and expats.
People sleeping in the apartment block, off Rassada Road near the Phuket Shopping Centre, awoke in terror before 5am this morning as the three men attempted to break down doors on the fourth floor.
They eventually concentrated their attention on the room of a 42-year-old Englishman named John, who was later reluctant to give his surname to Phuketwan .
''It was a nightmare to be woken up by someone trying to break down my door,'' he said.
''They didn't speak English and I don't speak Thai, but others told me that the man was shouting: 'I am going to kill you!'
''At one stage, they forced the door open but I managed to use the refrigerator to barricade it. I saw one man wielding what appeared to be a large knife.''
Other residents confirmed they saw what appeared to be a large knife or machete in the man's hand.
The three men who were involved were later seen outside the apartment block, chatting with police in a jovial manner.
Only with the involvement of John's neighbor, a Thai who lives at Phuket Center Apartment and works at the Provincial Courts, did police agree to go upstairs to inspect the damage.
According to other residents, including a Thai woman who lives at the block with her husband and two young children, people were clearly terrified to open their doors because of the man's threats.
Some doors were untouched. Occupants of rooms on that floor said they believed the man could even have been a resident of the apartment block, with friends there.
John, the Englishman who became the focus of the frenzy, was in the process of assessing the security of his room today because of his broken door.
''I came here last year for six months and I have been here this time for two months,'' he told Phuketwan.
''The island seems so pleasant. But after having someone hammer on my door and try to kill me, I am not so sure.''
The man accused of attempting the break-in left the scene and returned with a baton that he showed to police. He was later spotted riding off on a motorcycle.
The incident may have been captured by a security camera. Phuket Center Apartment, which offers rooms from 8500 baht a month, has a key-card security system.
Phuket residents in different parts of the island have held public protests on at least three occasions this year about what they say is the inefficiency of officers, with the economic downturn generating an increase in burglaries and other kinds of robberies.
It is estimated that the island's force of 1100 police has to protect more than a million people during high season months. The allocation of police is based on the island's ''official'' population of 320,000.
Phuket police work three shifts. With time off and holidays, about 300 officers are on duty at any single time.
Weekday traffic duty at schools and intersections during peak hours and VIP escorts divert them from preventing crime and pursing criminals.
Pleas for an increase in numbers have fallen on deaf ears in Bangkok.
It is believed that Phuket City Police Headquarters was being readied this morning for a visit later today by a high-ranking officer from the capital.
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The man, allegedly wielding a large knife, roamed a corridor of the stylish block early today with two other Thai men, attempting to kick in doors and threatening murder.
After the early-morning fracas at the Phuket Center Apartment, Phuket's Police Chief, Major General Pekad Tantipong, agreed that the Asean summit was stretching the island's police force, and that it was far too small to begin with.
Today's alarming disturbance also raised issues about the readiness of police to apply the law equally, in all circumstances, for cases involving both Thais and expats.
People sleeping in the apartment block, off Rassada Road near the Phuket Shopping Centre, awoke in terror before 5am this morning as the three men attempted to break down doors on the fourth floor.
They eventually concentrated their attention on the room of a 42-year-old Englishman named John, who was later reluctant to give his surname to Phuketwan .
''It was a nightmare to be woken up by someone trying to break down my door,'' he said.
''They didn't speak English and I don't speak Thai, but others told me that the man was shouting: 'I am going to kill you!'
''At one stage, they forced the door open but I managed to use the refrigerator to barricade it. I saw one man wielding what appeared to be a large knife.''
Other residents confirmed they saw what appeared to be a large knife or machete in the man's hand.
The three men who were involved were later seen outside the apartment block, chatting with police in a jovial manner.
Only with the involvement of John's neighbor, a Thai who lives at Phuket Center Apartment and works at the Provincial Courts, did police agree to go upstairs to inspect the damage.
According to other residents, including a Thai woman who lives at the block with her husband and two young children, people were clearly terrified to open their doors because of the man's threats.
Some doors were untouched. Occupants of rooms on that floor said they believed the man could even have been a resident of the apartment block, with friends there.
John, the Englishman who became the focus of the frenzy, was in the process of assessing the security of his room today because of his broken door.
''I came here last year for six months and I have been here this time for two months,'' he told Phuketwan.
''The island seems so pleasant. But after having someone hammer on my door and try to kill me, I am not so sure.''
The man accused of attempting the break-in left the scene and returned with a baton that he showed to police. He was later spotted riding off on a motorcycle.
The incident may have been captured by a security camera. Phuket Center Apartment, which offers rooms from 8500 baht a month, has a key-card security system.
Phuket residents in different parts of the island have held public protests on at least three occasions this year about what they say is the inefficiency of officers, with the economic downturn generating an increase in burglaries and other kinds of robberies.
It is estimated that the island's force of 1100 police has to protect more than a million people during high season months. The allocation of police is based on the island's ''official'' population of 320,000.
Phuket police work three shifts. With time off and holidays, about 300 officers are on duty at any single time.
Weekday traffic duty at schools and intersections during peak hours and VIP escorts divert them from preventing crime and pursing criminals.
Pleas for an increase in numbers have fallen on deaf ears in Bangkok.
It is believed that Phuket City Police Headquarters was being readied this morning for a visit later today by a high-ranking officer from the capital.
Law Enforcement on Phuket
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