2 caught in B18m gold heist

2 caught in B18m gold heist

PATHUM THANI – Police Tuesday afternoon captured two suspects who confessed to staging a violent daytime robbery of 18 million baht in gold from a moving delivery truck bound for Yaowarat.

Police swiftly arrested suspect Sompong Khamson with the stolen gold in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday. A second suspect, Suriyachan Thaithanu, also was apprehended. (Police photo)

Sompong Khamson, 25, and Suriyachan Thaithanu, 30, were taken into custody separately after a motorcycle bandit chased a gold-delivery truck, successfully heisting 14 kilogrammes of gold ornaments destined for shops in Yaowarat Tuesday.

The police were alerted to the daytime robbery and rushed to the scene in Soi Wat Kateprapa in tambon Bueng Kam Proi of Lam Luk Ka district.

The police found a truck belonging to Shining Gold Co smashed into the temple's wall, its right front tyre shot out with several bullets. Numerous .38 bullet shells were found nearby.

Mr Suriyachan and truck driver Korakot Changdecha, 28, were on their way to deliver the 18 million baht in ornaments to shops in Yaowarat.

Mr Suriyachan, who worked for the gold shop for three months, reportedly confessed to police that he conspired with Mr Sompong to steal the gold and Mr Korakot, who worked there for over a year, had not been involved.

Mr Sompong, the alleged gunman, was then arrested at his house in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district with the gold.

Police said one of the suspects said he wanted to repay gambling debts while the other wanted money for his wedding. 

Earlier, the driver told police a man wearing a black jacket and full-face helmet chased the truck and fired bullets at the tyre, causing the truck to hit the wall. Both men got out the truck and ducked the bullets.

He said the man grabbed bags full with gold and fled. Police tried unsuccessfully via radio to block the suspects.

Somsak Tantachon, 60, the owner of Shining Gold, said his driver normally used one of the three routes for his delivery and the company also had three vehicles in order to avoid being the target of robbery.

He said the Wat Kateprapa route was less crowded than the other two routes that pass the Tambon Administration Organisation and the post office.

Mr Somsak said Mr Suriyachan had worked with the company for three months and Mr Korakot usually picked workers whom he trusts to accompany him on the trips.

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