NAKHON RATCHASIMA: The man who robbed a gold shop in the Tesco Lotus shopping mall in Non Thai district on Tuesday night and escaped with 1.9 million baht worth of gold necklaces has been arrested, police said.
He was identified as Khunsob Dokkaewklang, 63, an employee of a massage parlour in Ubon Ratchathani.
According to police, he stole 119 gold necklaces -- weighing altogether 72.50 baht -- from the Yaowarat Bangkok gold shop and then fled on a motorcycle to Non Sung district, about 16 kilometres away.
There, he left the motorcycle at a house and proceeded in a private car to Ubon Ratchathani, preparing to flee to a neighbouring country.
One of the five police teams deployed to hunt for Mr Khunsob followed him along the escape route and arrested him on Wednesday afternoon in Ubon Ratchathani.
In a search of his Toyota car, the police found some of the stolen necklaces and a pistol he used in the robbery.
Mr Khunsob allegedly confessed that he committed the crime after the massage parlour where he worked ran out of customers who feared infection with Covid-19. His job was to help customers select a masseus for her services.
Police were taking him back to Non Thai district for questioning and further legal action.