Burglary attempt Koh Lanta..

In the accommodation where I am staying I was awoken approx 1.30 am by the sound of my bedroom door lock being tampered with, I walked to the door and quickly opened it to find a burglar and some kind of lock picking device trying to enter my room. I opened the door to find him crouched tampering with the lock in the dark with a torch. As soon as I saw the torch I instinctively shouted Oi!! in his face very shocked he leapt up turned and ran instantly. This is not a good situation as I am in a locked room in a locked house. I do not think he was going to be violent but just looking to steal whatever. There were three people in the house I was asleep but the other two had the tv on in their room so he went for my room

We then found out he had robbed a lot of valuables and money from the homestay next door first. It appears the locals do not budget for low season so well. During the high season they make a lot of money from the visiting tourists coming to the islands for sea and sun between Oct and Feb, however I have been informed many then spend it all at the same time. So unfortunately it appears that in the low season a few go around and steal from the local western and Hindu run businesses on the island to make up for this lack of income. I have been informed and experienced first hand last night that the island police do not do much about this as it is a muslim community and the locals are not stealing from the muslim businesses and homes.

The stealing takes place in the form of fuel from bikes and possessions from peoples homes and business whilst they are asleep. I am not happy with this situation because I do not want to get tangled up with burgulars or the law if I have to protect myself.

The vibe on the Island of Koh Lanta felt pretty shitty when I arrived and it has not improved, its great to see my family but Ive decided my time here is up so Im getting a bus somewhere else later, just not sure where.