Bangkok Gold Heist Ends in Arrest After Suspect’s Wife Urges Surrender

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture captured from CCTV

 

A gold shop robbery in Bangkok’s Watcharapol area ended with the swift arrest of the suspect after his wife persuaded him to turn himself in.

 

The robbery occurred around 12:30 on 16 March at the Aurora gold shop on Watcharapol Road in Bang Khen district. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Pramot Kongsriworakulchai, initially entered the shop pretending to pawn a gold necklace. When staff identified the necklace as fake, he brandished a firearm, threatened employees, and fled with five genuine gold necklaces, each weighing one baht.

 

Pramot escaped on a motorbike towards Watcharapol Market. Police, led by Lieutenant Yuranan Phetmanee and Colonel Anan Warasat of Bang Khen Police Station, launched an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage to track the suspect’s movements.

 

By 21:00 the same day, officers apprehended Pramot outside his residence on Soi Ram Inthra 8 in the Anusawari area of Bang Khen. He was found with four of the stolen gold necklaces, the clothes worn during the robbery, and his getaway motorbike.

 

During questioning, Pramot admitted to the crime, stating that he had fled towards the Bang Sue area, where he pawned one necklace for approximately 42,000 baht. He then altered his appearance by getting a haircut in an attempt to evade capture.

 

The suspect revealed that his wife had called him after hearing news of the robbery and confronted him about his involvement. She urged him to surrender, telling him escape was impossible. Following her advice, he returned home and called police, who arrested him shortly afterwards.

 

Pramot claimed he had committed the robbery to repay debts from an informal loan, as his earnings from working as a motorcycle taxi driver were insufficient. He also confessed that the firearm used in the robbery was a fake, purchased for 300 baht, and that he had discarded it in the Chao Phraya River after the crime.

 

Police have charged Pramot with robbery and he has been remanded in custody pending legal proceedings.

 

-- 2025-03-17