DNA Links Suspect to Cold Case Gold Shop Robbery in Bangkok

A recent DNA test has connected Jalor, a 28-year-old man arrested for a gold shop heist last week, to a similar crime from 2013, effectively closing a decade-long investigation into the robbery. Jalor, also known as Tew, was apprehended in Chiang Rai on February 19 following a robbery at a Bangkok mall's gold shop, where he stole approximately 15 million baht in cash and gold on January 31. The police used CCTV footage to track his movements and eventually captured him after he evaded them for nearly three weeks.

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Back in 2013, a robbery at a shopping mall in Bangkok's Rama 4 area remained unsolved despite DNA samples being collected from a motorcycle used in the crime. Police have now confirmed that the DNA from the 2013 robbery matches Jalor’s, bringing an end to the cold case. During last month’s robbery, Jalor threatened to set fire to the mall, coercing the staff to surrender the valuables. He then fled on a motorcycle and later sold part of the loot in Myanmar.

Authorities reported that Jalor received 200,000 baht from his initial sale and had planned another transaction for March 7, but was caught before it could take place. Metropolitan Police Bureau officers highlighted that Jalor’s method of operation mirrored the 2013 incident, leading to an examination of his DNA. The breakthrough in this investigation marks another success in leveraging DNA technology to solve past crimes.

The use of DNA testing has yielded previous successes, such as last September when a skeleton found in Bangkok was identified as a woman named Kae, missing since 2013, which later resulted in the arrest of a suspect who committed suicide before further questioning. With Jalor now facing charges for both robberies, police intend to pursue extended legal actions against him in court.

Key Takeaways

• DNA tests linked Jalor to a 2013 Bangkok robbery, solving the cold case.

• Jalor was caught after a January heist and planned further sales of stolen gold.

• Officials praise DNA technology advances in resolving past criminal cases.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 27 Feb 2026