BANGKOK – Rare sightings of security guards “actually helping people” have occurred in Bangkok several times over the past few months, stunning local observers who say the guards may have been moved by the serial killings of sleeping guards last November.
The unusual sightings have been front-page news in some newspapers and sparked public debate over the new phenomenon.
The first sighting occurred in early December at The Trendy hi-so apartment where a resident stood by speechless after a guard in her building, “pressed the lift button.”
Then, around Christmas, a guard at Ambassador Condominium complex on Lang Suan stunned a long-term resident by “wishing me good morning.” Commented the resident: “I stopped in my tracks and then noticed the guard looking at me with a smile. It was sort of surreal to be honest.”
Across town in On Nut, on the very same day, stunned onlookers gathered to watch a security guard “sort mail.”
It was reportedly the first time in Bangkok that two security guards had been seen helping people on the same day in more than 22 years.
Guards, however, are urging the public not to expect too many similar sightings in the future and warn they might just be anomalies. A union spokesman said guards would remain focused on the main aspects of their job: sleeping, listening to luuk thung and playing checkers with bottle caps.
