I have never had my home robbed and my car sat out side my home with the key in the ignition
and was never touched and this was in New York so I will say this I do not want to lock crooks out because that means I am locked in and I will not be locked in so my warning to any would be robbers enter my home and you will be carried out or I will be carried out that is one promise I make to my self
and I will not have a DOG I will not live my life in fear never did & never will

Well, even if you don't have a dog, you can still get those "fierce dog" signs. Then
at least the burglars would have been forewarned they were treading dangerously.

I feel safer walking around Soi farang etc at midnight , than after 9.00pm back in Australia.

Westers "The Collector" is correct is saying the biggest threats to localus udontanius is the Johnny Foreigners .aka Pattayus Invasivnesus

Yes even WWF confirm their numbers are increasing despite global warming effects, etc.

Their natural feeding freenzies of burgers and beers are still available in most feed and breeding grounds.

The original question asked "do you feel secure in Udon?" and not "do you feel afraid in Udon?". True, a lot of us come from tougher places in the US, UK or Australia, to name a few, but Udon seems safer and tame compared to those places. Some of us would own guns to protect our families and property here but since they're illegal then we should use what we are allowed to have legally, IMHO. It's a personal decision to make and I don't advocate it but tazers and mace are sold openly at markets. I even saw a shop at the Nong Khai Thadet market that openly sells crossbows with arrows for around 5000 baht. Your property and toys are not worth taking a life maybe but protecting the lives of your loved ones? For you to decide.

Burglaries have long been a problem in Udon and it will only get worse with the deep global recession we are in. When I first lived in Udon back in 1966, the Chinese landlords sometimes provided Thai guards for some of the bungalow housing compounds but they were mostly a joke. You would usually see your security guard fast asleep if you came home late at night. Has that changed? I wonder. Stayed at First Homes when we came back 2 1/2 years ago and the Thai guards that they hired were usually snoring away at night in their hammocks. There was a stray dog that hung out near the guard post and it would bark or growl whenever someone entered the estate. Sometimes it even woke the guard up. Lived in Nongsamrong after that and our Thai neighbors all swore that kamoys would not dare come in that area or the Army would catch them and deal with them severely. Not sure if I believe that but never heard of a break-in while we lived there. Lots of dogs in the area, too. Maybe that had a little to do with it?

Have read some interesting suggestions in here from high walls, grilles on windows, motion detectors, CCTV systems, alarms, attack dogs from pit bulls, rottweilers, shih tzus to maybe even poodles. Understand that some people hate (or maybe fear) dogs but to each his own. Don't want to give the impression that it's like the Wild West living in Udon because you seldom actually hear of crimes against farangs but that doesn't mean you should throw caution against the wind and leave your doors wide open either.

Senior Rambo

Nope. The wall was built by the former owner. Putting the decorative spikes on top was my idea. Back in time they used to place broken bottles on top of the walls. Neither method is that effective but does send a message. KTFO.

Now, let's talk about your insecurities, son.

You're the patient, son. Tell us how it all began. We're listening.

Thought at first that you were asking if I was insincere. Insecurities? Yeah, doc, I've got a few. Visa insecurities.

Then there's the paranoia that the saint mentioned. He might have been talking about everyone who posted up to then, however. And the schizophrenia. Sometimes I think I'm Rambo or aznyron carrying bodies out of the house.

Yours can be cured. Mine? I'm unsure. Or is that another insecurity?

Keep up with the rabies boosters and stay away from the bats. The pattayus loutus are fine. they just look mean. Dunno about those ex-pats. You should be afraid, be very afraid.


Dr. Rambo

The wall was built by the former owner

what a paranoid yanker

Safe.. yes, 2009 is safer than in 1973 when a heroin addict pulled a bowie knife on me behind the Paradise Hotel (about 100M from where Erwin's Bungalow is today).. These days, my place is adjacent to a Wat so most Thai's don't like to lurk about the place at night.. I've been burgled once when no one was home.. Pulled the security grate off the window a bit, but the deadbolt lock (key required inside and out) prevented them from walking out the door with anything.. They got my microwave as it was small enough to get back out the window they entered through.. But I wasn't targeted for being a Farang.. The cops came out and let us know that two other Thai homes had been burgled the same night.. It had all the hallmarks of Ya-Bah heads trying to get money, pawnable items or drugs.. No problems since in the neighborhood at all..