I haven’t been hit by a car before (either while driving, on a bicycle or walking) ONLY because I am a very cautious person. If I weren’t, I would surely have been in an accident by now.
I watched four people on TV being swept to their deaths because the rescue services didn’t come. Not only did they not come, they at first REFUSED to come. When they finally did arrive, they were unequipped to provide a rescue, despite the victims’ plight having been broadcast on live TV for more than an hour so it was very plain what equipment was needed.
I’ve had two motorcycles stolen, had my car broken into once, have had the police refuse to investigate a hit and run on my car despite having photographic evidence, have watched police drive past an accident scene without stopping (more than once), ignoring the clear presence of injured victims, have chased burglars out of my next door neighbour’s house,… I could go on but it’s depressing me.
Although we may argue the frequency and types of crimes against foreigners… what should be noted is the response or lack of respsonse of the police in these situations
If the police do not prevent or deter by prosecution of crimes against foreigners… is this not an open invitation to do whatever you want against foreigners?"
I called the police and they didn’t come. they just pretended they didn’t understand me. I gave the phone to my girlfriend who is Taiwanese. They said they didn’t understand her either and they just put the phone down.
Oh yeah, in less than two years my wife’s store has been burglarized twice.
Bad news TNT, the local cops do not prevent or deter any crimes be the target victim a foreigner or a local. The local cops’ version of crime prevention is not answering the phone when it rings down at the stationhouse. Anyway, often times they can not hear the phone because they got the HBO movie cranked up too loud. No lie, one time I was sitting in a substation; the boys were all sitting around watching HBO, smoking ciggies and drinking tea—while the phone rang away, away, away, away…
I really do need to write a little book called Brian’s Guide to the Taiwanese Criminal Justice System.
take care,
Judge Brian Dredd
Head of the San Chung Vigilantes Committee
Just want to see if we can get some figures
You need the option of “Yes I’ve been etc… and I also know someone who etc…”
Sorry, Sandman, but I don’t know how to edit the poll… 
Of course if someone wants to do it for me, any help would be greatly appreciated… 
I added an option, how’s that now ?
Great for me…Thanks!
Put two on the board for me.
Got my foot ran over by one of the blue trucks doing 80 down an alley (not that fast but too fast), and 3 guys tried to beat me, but they got it back instead. All this in only 7 months.
Not a victim here…12 years and counting (not all continuous).
On the note about the police, I get the feeling that there’s a lot of underground involvement in many crimes and the police are reluctant to get involved. Same idea with bystanders not helping or willing to be witnesses.
Also, it doesn’t seem like most of the police force has much pride (understandably so, considering the Taichung police dept is short 100 or so bulletproof vests) or much respect for their profession.
Been hit twice in the last six months. First time was a hit and run by a blue truck last January who ran a light, second time last week by a man who decided at the last possible second to make a U turn from the right hand lane over two lanes into opposite direction. At least this fellow was really upset about it and took full responsibility.
In the January accident the police never showed up and no one “saw” anything. I was actually quite battered from that accident, lost over a weeks work and had to pay out quite a chunk of money for hospital bills as my employer at the time had never put through my insurance.
Last week the police came immediately, called for a second car, called an ambulance and offered to come with me to the hospital. I refused the ambulance and their escort and the fellow who hit me took me to the hospital for x-rays, first aid and to have my dislocated thumb “popped” back into place. He paid all expenses and repairs for my scooter.
BTW, I have discovered that it hurts far more to have your thumb popped back into its’ socket than it did having it popped out!
Over twenty years of accident and ticket free driving until now…
i was hit by cars three times. drivers never stopped though i twice saw them looking back.
had my sweet vespa stolen. police never came.
broke into my house. stole 'fridge, microwave. cops never came.
I’ve been hit twice, both by scooters. Oh, and I sat on gum on the bus once.
Me…
Car accidents: none - but have seen and no of people who have had them.
Scooter accidents: none - as above
Break ins: 1 in 3 years - but know of people who have had them.
Victimisation: none.
I think this thread is getting a little silly. We all know these things occur and to various degrees and frequencies across our sample. I do agree that Taiwanese people seem to have a lower regard for their fellow humans… something I have never understood, esp. given their devotion to Daoism, Buddhism etc. :s
My big gripe is people with babies in prams that stand off the curb and in traffic… pram out front… puzzles me greatly.
Been burglarized once, motorcycles stolen twice from supposedly secure garages. Cops invited me to the station to fill a report, didn’t visit the scene or talk to the security guy who was on duty, nothing.
Reported a hit and run on my parked car, had the tag and witnesses, cops gave me the guy’s details and asked me to sort it out myself.
I was assaulted with a baseball bat, though I hurt him more than he hurt me, got the tag, reported it, no follow-up.
I was attacked with a scaffold tube for not moving out of the way for a blue truck at a gas station, though my tank was still being filled. I was in the police just up the road reporting this when the truck drove by, pointed it out to the cop taking my statement, and still nothing.
I watched a buddy get chased into a police station by some psycho trying to brain him with a pipe wrench. Cops just laughed about it and threw the psycho out and told him to get lost, despite my buddy saying he wanted to press charges.
Witnessed about 20 guys brawling in the middle of the street right in front of a police station while the cop on duty read his newspaper and steadfastly ignored what was going on outside.
Another buddy had his head opened up by a barstool just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Witnessed one shooting and several ‘shots-into-ceiling’ type displays in bars and KTVs. In all cases the cops waited until the perps were safely long gone before showing up and acting tough. IMHO I’ve only ever seen lazier and more corrupt cops in Indonesia, the Philippines and India.
Compared to most people here I lead a very quiet life, and these incidents span about 15 years. Stick around long enough and you’ll see what goes on.
From my 5 years of experience Taiwan is safer (traffic aside) than any Western country I’ve ever been to (limited to NZ, OZ and UK), and all the 10 or so Asian countries I’ve been to (except maybe Singapore and HK).
I’ve had one bicycle, and one scooter stolen (the scooter was found by the police - how many cops in other countries find the majority of stolen cars). I’ve never been attacked. I consider that normal for 5 years.
Someone said:
[quote]1). No kids hanging around telephone boxes or the local shops.
2). No Graffitti, or very, very, little in Taiwan. (It’s everywhere in the UK).
3). No smashed telephone boxes, vandalised trees, bins, smashed shop windows.
4). No groups of piss heads shouting and hollering whilst wobbling down the middle of the road at 1200 at night.
5). No druggies hanging round the local community centre. I’ve never seen a used needle in Taiwan.
[/quote]
The key things that make Taiwan seem a lot safer (I’m talking the feeling of public afety when you walk around the city, especially at night) are:
No streetkids
No druggies
No pissheads
There’s a lot less opportunisti theft in Taiwan and I also think it’s bullshit that people in Taiwan won’t go out of their way to help you. A few examples from my personal experience (too many to remember all of them):
I used to leave my keys in the old scooter all the time. There must have been a couple of dozen times someone had hidden them with a bag, hidden them in my helmet or taken them into the shop for safe keeping.
Taxi driver brings my cellphone back to me.
Taxi driver chases me through a nightmarket to give my wallet back.
Taxi driver returns to restaurant an our later with my brother’s swimming gear.
Numerous times people run after me with the 1NT I’ve dropped but not been bothered to pick up.
Left my wallet or bag in pubs or restaurants about 5 times, and either had someone clal me, or it’s been there the next morning. An unattended wallet or bag wouldn’t last 5 minutesin a NZ pub.
There’s many more I can’t think of.
I’m not denying theft and attacks happen, but overall, I think it’s a lot safer than a Western city.
Brian
Actually AWOL that was the point I have been trying to make. Many previous posters have said things such as crime happens to EVERYONE in Taiwan and as we see here it doesn’t (or at least hasn’t). 