www.thaivisa.com/[...]

Before you jump on the "tour group" Thailand holiday, best you do your homework. Many reasons to evaluate your safety while in Thailand.

Just an FYI

I got to know some long term expats in Phuket. There is a real problem with crime and most of it is not reported in the press.

There had been over 90 murders in the previous 10 months before I arrived, in Phuket alone. Mostly drug and gang related.
Some of the westerners in jail for drugs were only convicted for not paying off local police, otherwise drugs are pretty endemic.
Gun crime is not uncommon. The bar owner had been randomly shot at by a stoned teenager walking the streets with a handgun one night. He also said that there is a real problem with police corruption, which might go towards explaining the suspended sentence.

The other thing to note, and not picked up in the comments section of the link, the article said it was a black taxi. I never saw any black cabs in Phuket and assume they are referring to an unlicensed taxi/private.
Basic rules apply anywhere. Don't get in private cars on your own at night. Don't travel alone at night. Not just true for lone females.

Although the article is shocking, worse has happened in Shenzhen. At least the victim in this case is not dead.

that's right. mostly drug and gang-related.

i could be wrong, but i don't think thailand is an exceptionally dangerous place to travel.

the moral of the story, in my opinion, is if you're a 19 year old girl, it's probably best not to travel alone - anywhere in the world.

Phuket is possibly the worst place in Thailand for crime, but I felt much safer there than I do here.

What is LOS?

Land of smiles ...Thailand

A warning to Chinese tourists who have no idea what LOS is. Got to love the cryptic language and use of acronyms that have no explanation.

I think he meant Land of Smiles.

But I also think he thinks it's an actual acronym.

Beware the TLAs

To all PRC citizens, beware the GOKM threads by SOBS.