Man robs Bangkok bank with fake grenade

Man robs Bangkok bank with fake grenade

A branch of Bangkok Bank in a Big C store on Ram Intra Road in Bang Khen district was robbed by a man brandishing a fake grenade on Sunday night. (Police News photo)
A branch of Bangkok Bank in a Big C store on Ram Intra Road in Bang Khen district was robbed by a man brandishing a fake grenade on Sunday night. (Police News photo)

Police, aided by ordinary citizens, arrested a man as he fled after using a fake grenade to steal about 50,000 baht from a branch of Bangkok Bank on Sunday evening.

Police at Bangkok's Bang Khen station were informed of the incident at Big C store on Ram Intra Road in Bang Khen district at about 7.40pm.

Arriving at the scene, police saw a number of frightened people and a robber running away from the superstore. Local residents then helped police catch and arrest the man, who dropped what appeared to be a hand grenade as he fled. Bomb experts later found that it was a bogus grenade, an object wrapped with black tape with a piece of metal that looked like a safety lever attached. 

The robber was identified as Chayant Malithong, 40. The man, who appeared to be drunk, was taken to the Bang Khen station.

Bank teller Usawadee Nahuaithong said the man first showed her a piece of paper with a message saying that he had a grenade and that if she filled his bag with cash, he would leave.

The man showed her the bogus grenade and threatened to release the safety lever unless she did as he demanded.

The frightened teller took 55,760 baht cash from a drawer and placed it in his bag. When he ran out of the bank, she shouted for help and the robber was then overpowered by local people and police.

The bogus grenade was found near the crime scene. (Police News photo)

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