Crime Retired Army Captain Arrested After Armed Robbery Attempt at Store in Lopburi

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamNews.

 

A late-night armed robbery attempt at a convenience store in Lopburi province took a dramatic turn when police arrested the suspect shortly after the incident, only to discover he was a retired army officer.

 

The incident occurred at 00:05 on 10 July, at a 24-hour convenience store located within a PTT petrol station on Chom Phon Pibulsongkram Road in Tha Sala sub-district, Mueang Lopburi district. According to the initial report made to the 191 emergency hotline, a lone male suspect wielding a handgun entered the store and attempted to rob the premises.

 

Police quickly responded, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Somnuek Khidthuk, Deputy Superintendent of Crime Suppression at Mueang Lopburi Police Station. Officers sealed off the area and interviewed Miss Paweena Tosan, a 33-year-old employee who was visibly shaken.

 

Miss Paweena recounted that she was at the front of the store while a colleague was in the back having a meal. At the time, a security guard was also present outside, along with a few customers. Suddenly, a man dressed in a black jacket, black shorts and a black ski mask stormed into the store, brandished a pistol and ordered her to shut off all the lights.

 

Terrified, she fled to the stockroom, with the gunman following close behind. Customers scattered and escaped. The suspect then tried to open cash drawers two and three behind the counter, unaware that the cash was stored in drawer one, which remained untouched. Not stopping there, he continued to the back, pointing the gun as he pursued the staff. Miss Paweena and her colleague managed to flee through the rear exit.

 

The suspect then exited the store and drove off in a grey Nissan van. Police motorcycle patrol units quickly spotted a vehicle matching the description parked suspiciously near the Naresuan Road junction, about one kilometre from the scene. Inside sat the suspect, calmly acting as if nothing had happened, alongside his wife who was operating a food stall nearby.

 

Officers identified the man as Captain Khomsanti Unarat, 66, a retired army officer. A search of the van uncovered a loaded .32 calibre revolver with six rounds of ammunition. The weapon was unregistered.

 

The suspect was arrested on the spot. Miss Paweena later identified Captain Khomsanti as the man who attempted the robbery.

 

His 60-year-old wife, Mrs Tatchanee, expressed disbelief. She stated that he had earlier been sitting at her food stall and claimed he was going to the nearby petrol station to use the toilet. He returned shortly after and showed no unusual behaviour. She told police her husband suffers from several chronic conditions, including psychiatric issues and bowel disease and is currently under medical treatment with a doctor’s appointment scheduled for 23 July to adjust his medication.

 

Captain Khomsanti appeared dazed and fatigued during questioning, speaking only briefly to say he “needed the money”.

 

Police have charged him with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition in a public place. Additional charges, including attempted robbery, are pending further investigation and review of CCTV footage and witness testimonies. The investigation is being handled by Pol. Lt. Col. Waree Sroisanga, lead investigator at Mueang Lopburi Police Station.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-07-11