November 3: Burglars have stolen personal effects worth about 20,000 US dollars from a group of American tourists on the night of October 24.

The belongings include digital cameras, satellites phones, radio headsets, backpacks, cash, and documents including passports.

The tourists were camping at Soe Thang Thangka - two days walk from Drukgyal Dzong.

The group leader Cathy Ann Taylor said they were having dinner when the incident occurred. She said the burglars had slit open the tents with a knife and stolen all their belongings.

Cathy Ann Taylor has been leading tour groups to Bhutan for seven years. She said this is the first time such an incident has happened. She said it looked like a preplanned theft as Soe Thang Thangka is located far away from human settlement.

There were 26 people including 12 tourists. From the three tents that have been slit, personal effects belonging to four tourists were stolen.

On the same night, another group of tourists who were camped below Gunitsawa lost about 1,200 US dollars and an unspecified amount of Thai Baht.

The owner of Bhutan Visit Tours and Trek said the burglars have ransacked their bags before stealing the money.

The case has been reported to the police.