Robbery at Gold Shop in Ban Mo District of Saraburi Province
A robbery occurred at the Por Udomsuk gold shop in the Tha Lan market along Tha Lan-Huai Bong Road in tambon Ban Khrua of Ban Mo district, Saraburi province. The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon when a knife-wielding robber held a customer hostage and made off with gold ornaments worth approximately 240,000 baht.
Details of the Robbery
According to Pol Capt Sombat Phonsing, deputy investigation chief at the Ban Mo police station, the robbery occurred at around 4:30 pm on Wednesday. The suspect, described as a man aged 30-40, arrived at the shop on a motorcycle without a licence plate. He wore a face mask, crash helmet, jeans, and a long-sleeved jacket.
The robber forced his way through the glass door of the shop, which had steel bars at its counter. He then grabbed hold of a female customer identified as Sureenut Buasri, 57, who was about to leave after pawning a gold ring. The suspect choked her and held a knife to her waist while shouting at the shop owner, Nanthawan Piamkhiew, 72.
The robber threatened to slit the customer’s throat if the shop owner did not hand over the gold. Fearing for the customer’s life, Ms Nanthawan complied with the demand, handing over 15 necklaces worth around 240,000 baht in total.
Suspect’s Demands and Motive
During the robbery, the suspect shouted that he needed money to pay off gambling debts. This is not the first time the gold shop has been targeted by robbers. Two months ago, a robber made off with a gold ring weighing one baht and worth over 50,000 baht.
Customer’s Account of the Incident
Ms Sureenut, shaken and in tears, told police that she had come to pawn her ring for 5,000 baht to cover medical expenses for her sick 5-year-old grandson. She said she feared for her life and was unable to resist as the suspect held her at knifepoint.
"I thought I was going to die," she said tearfully. "I kept thinking about my children and grandchildren."
Police Investigation
The Ban Mo police have launched a manhunt for the knife-wielding robber, who fled on his motorcycle in the direction of Tha Rua district in Ayutthaya province. The police are reviewing security camera footage to identify the suspect and track down his whereabouts.
Previous Robbery at Same Gold Shop
In February this year, the same gold shop was robbed by a man who made off with a gold ring weighing one baht and worth over 50,000 baht. However, the suspect was caught soon after the robbery.
The police are urging anyone with information about the recent robbery to come forward and assist in the investigation.