They roam around most, if not all, of the dark and isolated corners of the capital day and night. They have been known to witness crimes and get hold of information for police to solve major criminal investigations, if they are willing to talk and the police ask the right person.
That explains why police now see potential sources in scavengers on the back of saleng trikes, aside from the taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers who already play vital roles in the crime watch network.
Pol Col Samran Nualma, chief of the Patrol and Special Operation Division, better known as the 191 police division, was the first to suggest that police seek out rubbish collectors for information on crimes. A recent incident in which tap water meters were being stolen in Bang Na district gave him the idea of turning scavengers into police assistants.
During their investigation into the water theft case, police questioned many saleng scavengers and kept records of their personal information, a process that revealed a treasure trove of information they held about past crimes.
What's more, they learn many dark secrets from the rubbish they collect, such as containers of toxic substances dumped illegally or used items of clothing that could serve as a crucial piece of evidence in a criminal investigation, said Pol Col Samran.
The police, having realised the value of the information which the scavengers possess, now plan to train at least 1,000 saleng scavengers to become informers.
The training will be held next Sunday at Kasetsart University.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau will on the same day announce the incorporation of saleng scavengers into its network of four criminal patrol vehicles -- 191 cars, taxis, motorcycle taxis and scavenging saleng tricycles.
"We've already been networking with taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers who are supplying us with tip-offs about criminal activities. And now I think saleng scavengers are interesting partners as they get into those isolated corners of the city to search for rubbish. They may have witnessed a crime or come across items that are actually evidence in a criminal case," said Pol Col Samran.
As new members of the network, the scavengers will be advised to cooperate with police in three main areas -- they should avoid collecting or buying objects that could implicate them in theft, give police tip-offs about potential criminal activities and notify them if they find discarded explosives or materials they suspect might be a bomb.
These people go out to search for reuseable rubbish at dawn and late at night -- when many crimes also tend to take place, said Pol Col Samran.
But before the scavengers can start helping police, they need to know how to supply useful information and protect themselves from the potential danger accompanying their role.
The step-by-step training to equip scavengers with the knowledge and skills to work with police will include basic knowledge about toxic substances and traffic rules.
After the training, they will be regarded as "home guards" working for the police. Police will keep on record the fingerprints and personal details of scavengers who take part. In the future, police might one day issue trained scavengers with vests similar to those of motorcycle taxi drivers, said Pol Col Samran.
When asked whether police were concerned that scavengers may abuse their new positions of power, Pol Col Samran said he believes that if they understand the punishment for such behaviour, it will deter them.
"With more people joining the police network to fight crime, policing will improve which will help bring down the crime rate," he said. "These days, the limited numbers of police detectives and officers can't keep up with the large numbers of crimes committed."
Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th