Euro 2004 initiates flurry of robberies’ activity

Euro 2004 initiates flurry of robberies. In Thailand

Euro 2004 appears to be a great opportunity for offenders who want to cash in on the gambling revenues growth during the course of competition. Some offenders were urged by their gambling debts generated from the wagering losses.

Gamblinggates.com reported earlier that the Thailand government blocked access to Ladbrokes, LiveScore and Sportingbet (football betting is prohibited in the country).

According to the Thai police spokesperson Maj-General Pongsapat Pongcharoen cited by Nationmultimedia.com, the number of robberies increased during Euro 2004. "Most suspects have confessed that they committed the crimes to pay off their gambling debts. For example, there were two thieves who recently broke into four houses in Bangkok in a desperate bid to find money to clear their six-digit debts incurred on a single match between England and France last week”.

Therefore the police began controlling 24-hour convenience stores, petrol stations, housing estates and gold shops in Bangkok and adjacent provinces. Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner Lt-General Somsak Buppasuwan announced they were conducting regular checks at entertainment venues and hotels to prevent gambling and make immediate arrests of any punter or bookmaker revealed.

The measures also include operating licences’ deprivation of those entertainment venues which allow football gambling. “Any police officer found to be involved in gambling will be fired immediately.Tip-offs are welcome and we had already asked banks to help monitor any suspicious transactions. We also ask schools to keep a close watch on their students,” added Somsak.