Gold Heist in Ayutthaya: Police Struggle to Track Down Bt7.8M Robber
A masked robber made off with 7.8 million baht worth of gold necklaces from an Ayutthaya shopping mall in under a minute, leaving police with few leads and no clear way to track him down.
Robber Evades CCTV Identification
The heist took place at the Yaowarat Asia gold shop inside the Tesco Lotus branch in Bang Pa-in district on Sunday evening. The suspect, dressed in a black jacket, grey trousers, and black canvas shoes, walked into the mall with his face completely covered, making it impossible for CCTV to identify him.
Notably, he did not use a vehicle to approach or flee the scene, further complicating police efforts to track his movements.
A Swift and Calculated Robbery
According to shop staff, the robber revealed a pistol at his waist and demanded large gold necklaces. Within seconds, he grabbed 12 necklaces, stuffed them into a cloth bag, and calmly exited the mall.
The entire operation lasted less than a minute.
By Monday, the gold shop had reopened, but customers were only allowed to wait outside while staff displayed gold samples.
Robber Hired a Motorcycle Taxi – and Even Waited for Change
After leaving the scene, the suspect hired a motorcycle taxi to travel about two kilometers. Halfway through the ride, he got off, paid 30 baht, and waited for 20 baht in change before calmly walking away.
Authorities have since reviewed CCTV footage from surrounding roads, but the suspect meticulously covered all identifying features, including avoiding branded clothing.
Investigation Ongoing, But Few Leads
The case has been transferred to a specialized investigation unit, but officers admit the suspect’s precise planning has made it exceptionally difficult to track him down.
