CHON BURI - Police continued the hunt on Thursday for the armed robber who made off with almost 9 million baht from a cash delivery van on Wednesday evening.
Pol Col Sukthat Pumpunmuang, Pattaya police chief, ordered checkpoints set up in Bang Lamung district to block escape routes likely to be used by the audacious bandit.
The robber struck about 6pm on Wednesday. He was wearing a full-face crash helmet when he arrived on a motorcycle and parked about 10 metres away from a cash delivery van operated by Siam Administrative Management Co (Samco) in front of Siam Commercial Bank’s south Pattaya branch at Big C superstore in Pattaya City.
The rider then pulled out a pistol, fired one shot into the sky and immediately snatched the cash bag from two delivery guards. He then fired one more shot into the rear of the van before fleeing, police said after questioning Methakorn Supadee, one of the two employees.
Footage from a closed-circuit television camera shows the lone gunman riding his bike toward Wat Bunsamphan intersection in Chon Buri after the hold up. (Photo taken via Chaiyot Phuttanapong)
Mr Methakorn, 26, and Jeerasak Seeladlao, 28, were carrying 8.8 million baht cash from the bank branch to the vehicle when the robbery occurred. They were unhurt.
Police and forensic officers inspected the robbery scene and found two spent pistol cartridges.
Footage of closed-circuit television cameras showed the robber fleeing toward Wat Bunsamphan intersection.
Pol Maj Gen Kittipong Ngaomuk, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 2, ordered an immediate manhunt for the robber.
A similar robbery occurred on March 27, when a hooded man robbed employees of Samco Co delivering more than 5 million baht to a Siam Commercial Bank ATM in front a Lotus Express branch in Chon Buri's Muang district.