Jewel broker loses B10m diamond to gem-shop conman

Jewel broker loses B10m diamond to gem-shop conman

Police inspect the shop opened by the thief as a front to steal a 10 million-baht diamond from an Indian gem broker who advertised it for sale on a website, in Bang Rak district, Bangkok, on Tuesday. The glass door was broken by the desperate gem seller after he and his companion were locked inside when the thief fled. (Photo taken from TV)
Police inspect the shop opened by the thief as a front to steal a 10 million-baht diamond from an Indian gem broker who advertised it for sale on a website, in Bang Rak district, Bangkok, on Tuesday. The glass door was broken by the desperate gem seller after he and his companion were locked inside when the thief fled. (Photo taken from TV)

Two thieves made off with a 10-carat diamond an Indian gem broker wanted to sell after luring him to a shop they had rented in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district as a part of an eleborate hoax.

The robbery occurred on the first floor of a four-storey commercial building on Si Phraya Road around 3pm on Tuesday.

Pol Lt Chanachart Charoenphol, deputy investigation chief for Bang Rak, said a man aged 45-50 years, had agreed about a week ago  to rent the first floor of the building at 10,000 baht a month, saying he planned to open a shop to make, sell and buy jewellery. 

The man, whose name was not known, had told the owner he wanted to move in his equipment and decorate the shop before signing the actual rental contract, Pol Col Duangchot Suwancharas, chief of Bang Rak police station, said..

On Tuesday afternoon, Jain Vaivphav, a 44-year-old Indian jewel broker, and a Thai friend arrived at the shop with a 10-carat diamond they wanted to sell. They were met by a man who said he was the proprietor. 

After seating them in the shop, he said he wanted to examine the precious stone in natural light. He walked outside the shop, going through the motions of examining the diamond, leaving the two men inside.

He then used a remote controller to close the glass door behind him, locking the two men inside, and immediately fled on a waiting motorcycle. 

Mr Vaivphav used his right fist to break the glass door and gave a chase, but was quickly left behind, while his friend called police.

Mr Vaivphav was taken to a hospital with severe lacerations that required 20 stitches, Pol Col Duangchot said.

Thai media reported that Mr Vaivphav had earlier advertised the 10-carat diamond for sale for 10-million baht on a website. The thief saw the ad and conspired to steal the gem, using the shop as a front to lure his victim into bringing it to him.

Police were hunting for the thief and his motorcyclist accomplice.

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