Hat Yai: A lone robber executed a daring heist in the heart of Hat Yai city, targeting a gold shop and making off with 184 baht of gold valued at over 9 million baht. The latest developments in the case reveal that the robber abandoned his car after the theft and changed his attire before fleeing the scene.
According to Thai News Agency, CCTV footage captured the events as they unfolded in a gold shop located in Hat Yai Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. The footage shows a male suspect, approximately 50 years old, dressed in a blue shirt, cap, and face mask, entering the shop, which was staffed exclusively by female employees. The man brandished a gun, threatening the staff, and then strategically placed a chair in front of the entrance. Proceeding toward the jewelry display, he swiftly gathered four trays of gold necklaces into a shoulder bag while the employees reacted in shock, with some attempting to flee and others praying for safety. Despite the chaos, the robber remained composed, leaving the shop on a red Honda Dream motorcycle parked nearby, completing the robbery in just two minutes.
The shop owner recounted that the staff initially mistook the robber for a customer, requesting him to remove his cap in accordance with shop policy. However, the situation escalated when the man drew a gun, prompting staff to retreat to the back of the shop and activate the alarm. A subsequent assessment revealed that the stolen items included a variety of gold necklaces and bracelets, totaling 184 baht in weight and valued at over 9 million baht.
Police officers from Hat Yai Police Station promptly arrived at the scene, conducting a thorough review of CCTV footage from nearby roads to trace the perpetrator's vehicle. The investigation led them to a car matching the description, found abandoned next to a tree in Soi Saeng Sri, approximately one kilometer from the gold shop.
Local residents reported observing the suspect changing clothes behind a house before walking toward Kim Yong Market. They noticed the suspect switching from long pants to cropped pants but were unaware of the robbery at the time.
Further investigation into the ownership of the getaway motorcycle revealed it belonged to a company in Tambon Bannang Sata, Amphoe Bannang Sata, Yala Province. Police are currently working to gather information on the motorcycle's sale or usage, with the expectation that this information will expedite the apprehension of the suspect.