Samut prakan: The robber who stole 123 baht worth of gold confessed to being in debt to the informal sector. A thief who stole 123 baht worth of gold from a well-known shopping mall in Samut Prakan confessed to borrowing money to invest in a car repair shop. He paid interest daily but was unable to make ends meet, so he committed the crime.
According to Thai News Agency, the suspect, Mr. Wirawat, 31, used a gun to rob a gold shop in Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province, making away with gold jewelry worth over 6 million baht. He exploited his familiarity with the area to escape through a route devoid of security cameras on the evening of August 14th.
Investigators from Samut Prakan Provincial Police later discovered that Mr. Wirawat had abandoned the motorcycle he used for the escape in a fish pond in Soi Wat Kolaad. They traced him to a house where he was hiding and arrested him on August 19 after obtaining a search warrant. The police seized approximately 90 baht worth of gold jewelry hidden in various locations around the house. The remaining 33 baht is still being investigated.
The suspect admitted to committing the robbery due to debts owed to informal lenders. He faced monthly interest payments of at least 50,000 baht, which led to financial distress. After planning for about a week, he acquired a rider's jacket and helmet, repainted his motorcycle, and plotted his escape route. He even enlisted a younger relative, Mr. Mod, to assist in surveying the route using a boat for the getaway.
Following the robbery, Mr. Mod assisted him in escaping by boat under a bridge, where they returned to Mr. Wirawat's residence. The gold was divided and hidden at locations later discovered by the police. Mr. Wirawat targeted the gold shop due to its perceived lack of security measures. He also recounted losing some gold during the escape when it fell into the canal.
The police have thoroughly questioned Mr. Wirawat and re-enacted the crime scene, including his escape route and the abandonment of his vehicle. Legal proceedings are underway, and he faces charges of joint robbery with a weapon, joint receiving of stolen property, illegal possession of a firearm, and carrying a firearm in public.