Gold Heist Suspect Fleeing to Pattaya Arrested: Blames Online Gambling Addiction

Picture courtesy of kaoded.

A 47-year-old man who robbed a gold shop in Lamphun province earlier this month has been arrested while hiding out in Pattaya, Chonburi. The suspect, identified as Mr Prakorn Somnuek, confessed to the crime and told police he acted out of desperation due to debts from online gambling.

The robbery occurred on 7 June, at a gold shop in Pa Sang District, Lamphun. The suspect, described as approximately 160–165 cm tall, was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, jeans, a black cap, and a face covering. He arrived alone on a black Yamaha Mio motorcycle and made off with two 5-baht-weight gold necklaces valued at over 500,000 baht. The entire robbery took less than five minutes.

An arrest warrant for Mr Prakorn was issued by the Lamphun Provincial Court on 11 June. Chonburi Provincial Police received intelligence that he had fled to Chonburi province and were able to track him down to a shopping centre in Central Pattaya.

Police arrested Mr Prakorn at the mall and seized 415,072 baht in cash along with two mobile phones. During questioning, he admitted to the gold theft, stating he had fled to Pattaya after selling the stolen jewellery at another gold shop. He initially considered turning himself in, but delayed and was eventually apprehended before he could do so.

Mr Prakorn claimed that he committed the robbery because he had lost all his money to online gambling and saw no other way out of his financial situation.

He has been remanded in custody by Pattaya City Police and will be transferred back to Lamphun to face charges of theft involving a vehicle, a charge that carries a heavier penalty under the law due to the method used in the crime.

Police said investigations are continuing and further charges may be brought if additional evidence emerges.

Related article:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1363000-gold-robbery-in-lamphun-market-sparks-police-manhunt/

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-06-14