harajuku4me_pls
longtail driver
Posts: 6

#1 Posted: 28/4/2008 - 03:26


hey - i'm doing research into a possible southeast-asia trip, and this forum has been very helpful. however one thing i've read at other places but not necessarily here is that Phnom Penh is very dangerous. muggings and violent crime are apparently very common. is this true?

thanks

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2415
Located in:
Indonesia

#2 Posted: 28/4/2008 - 07:31


No, it's not true -- at least not for tourists -- "snatch and grabs" and pickpocketing are far more problematic.

My wife was robbed twice when we lived in Phnom Penh -- on both occasions the crimes were snatch and grabs (once snatching a handbag off her lap (containing both our passports...arrrgghhh), and the other trying to grab her wallet out of her hand as she walked down the street). On both occasions the thief was on a motorcycle.

As far as violent crime is concerned, Phnom Penh has more than it's fair share, but this is by and large crime involving the local population only.

Like any big city, you need to be careful and use your common sense -- stay in control, don't walk down unlit streets late at night alone...

goo_stewart
tout
Posts: 61

#3 Posted: 30/4/2008 - 10:34


I have seen guns in Phnom Penh, but no violence. There really isn't any more danger than any other metropolis. At night be careful, take motorcycles if you are moving around the non-touristy main streets. Don't go down dark alleys. Just exercise the same caution as if you are in London or New York.

mrdome
longtail driver
Posts: 6

#4 Posted: 3/5/2008 - 20:22


Dangerous is relative, isn't it? Are you female or male? Are you streetsmart? Do you carry flashy jewelry or techtoys around?
PP is the capital of a very poor country with a violent past. That said, I was there last month and walked around at night and never felt unsafe. In the end, if your karma ripens it just does but you don't even need to travel to SE Asia for that to happen.

Jacster
backpacker
Posts: 12

#5 Posted: 5/5/2008 - 19:55


I've been in PP for the last 2 months. I've never felt threatened (lone female). I take precautions - if you can call them that - I wear my messenger bag across my body, take motos or tuk tuks at night. I actually don't feel like I'm being more careful than I am in other big cities.
You'll love it here.

harajuku4me_pls
longtail driver
Posts: 6

#6 Posted: 6/5/2008 - 04:25


thanks so much guys for all the info - i really appreciate it and i feel much more confident about the city.

i've been to other asian cities such as Shanghai, Xi'an, Tokyo, Guilin etc and i guess i was just trying to guage how it stacks up in relation to those places. in China i never once felt threatened, but i guess it would be wise to take extra precautions in a poor country such as cambodia...