TAK – A man tried to steal gold jewellery from a shop inside the Lotus shopping mall in Tak, but his plan quickly fell apart. A staff member noticed his odd behaviour and alerted the security guard, who kept a close watch.
When the suspect grabbed a gold necklace and tried to run, he didn’t get far. Just as he made his move, a police patrol happened to be near the shop and caught him on the spot. He later said he needed money.
The incident involved a tall, dark-skinned man who entered Wang Tokang Gold Shop, located in Lotus Tak around 7:09 p.m. on August 18. The suspect acted like he wanted to buy gold but seemed suspicious. Staff quietly signalled another employee to notify security.
The suspect asked to see a small gold necklace, then switched to a heavier one weighing one baht. He suddenly stepped back and ran for the exit. Staff immediately shouted for help, and security tried to stop him.
At the same time, police officers who were patrolling the mall rushed over and managed to catch him before he left the building.
He was later identified as Thanapol, 28, from Rahaeng in Tak city. He left the gold necklace (one baht in weight) behind during the escape. Police searched him and found a six-inch fruit knife.
Afterwards, Pol. Col. Sitthichai Yimyuan, the head of Tak Police Station, along with several deputies and over 50 officers, came to the scene to support the response.
Police said that during their patrol in Lotus Tak, as they were checking another jewellery store nearby, they heard Ms. Orachuda Sukla, a staff member and the victim, shout for help that someone was robbing the shop.
The patrol team quickly responded. They spotted Thanapol running from Wang Tokang Gold Shop and were able to detain him right there.
The stolen gold necklace, valued at 53,350 baht, was found dropped near the Top Charoen store, about 15 metres from where the incident started. Thanapol admitted the necklace came from Wang Tokang Gold Shop.
A search found a 20 cm fruit knife in his black bag. Thanapol told police he had ridden a blue-black Honda Wave with Sukhothai plates (KMJ-932) to the scene, parking it at the Lotus exit. Police seized the bike as evidence.
The victim told police that Thanapol came to Wang Tokang Gold Shop saying he wanted to buy a gold necklace weighing one baht. She showed him the item, but while she was distracted, he grabbed it and bolted for the exit.
She shouted for help, and the police chased and caught him. Officers also recovered the gold necklace and the motorcycle used in the crime.
Thanapol later told police he did not plan the robbery. He said he was out of money and didn’t know what else to do, so he tried to steal the necklace to sell for cash.
He said he ran as soon as he saw the police and tried to make it out of the mall, but was caught before reaching the door. The knife in his bag, he claimed, was something he always carried and was not used in the theft.
Police have charged Thanapol with theft involving the use of a vehicle to aid escape and seized the gold necklace as evidence. He was transferred to the investigators at Tak Police Station for further legal action.
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