Mae Sot: Police have gathered crucial information on the suspect involved in the theft of 102 baht worth of gold from a renowned shopping mall in Mae Sot. Authorities suspect that the individual is a local resident who is still hiding within the area. In response, law enforcement has implemented stringent border controls to prevent the thief from fleeing and has heightened security measures to safeguard gold shops and shopping malls against future incidents.
According to Thai News Agency, the robbery was executed by a solitary individual dressed as a delivery rider. The suspect concealed his identity with a helmet and wielded a handgun to intimidate employees and customers, totaling more than ten people, before making off with three trays of gold. The stolen gold, weighing approximately 102 baht and valued at over 4.7 million baht, was placed in a shoulder bag before the thief fled on a parked motorcycle. The entire operation was completed in under a minute, occurring last night.
Pol. Lt. Col. Rawiporn Amornmuneepong, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 6, convened a meeting with the investigation team to expedite the pursuit of the perpetrator. Following the meeting, the team conducted a detailed inspection of the crime scene and further interviewed the gold shop employees, enhancing their understanding of the perpetrator.
CCTV footage has revealed that the suspect is a slender male, approximately 165-170 cm tall, wearing a black full-face helmet, a green delivery uniform, green camouflage undershirt, black skinny jeans, black shoes with white shoelaces, and carrying a large black backpack. The suspect used a motorcycle with an automatic transmission to escape, though the license plate number remains unknown. Cameras captured the suspect riding calmly out of Mae Sot town, suggesting familiarity with the escape routes, leading to speculation that he may be a local.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Rawiphan confirmed that evidence, including crucial CCTV footage and items left at the scene, has been collected. The police have identified some leads and potential targets and are actively tracking the suspect, with an arrest anticipated soon.
The investigation suggests the suspect remains in the Mae Sot border region. Multiple police teams are intensively pursuing the suspect, coordinating intelligence efforts along the Thai-Myanmar border to prevent an escape across the border. Additionally, authorities have ordered increased inspections of gold shops and department stores in Mae Sot district to avert similar incidents.