Police have arrested two Chinese tourists accused of carrying out a gold shop robbery in Nakhon Ratchasima, stealing rings worth about 300,000 baht before fleeing. The suspects were detained later the same day in Bangkok after investigators traced their getaway vehicle. The stolen items were recovered and authorities are preparing legal proceedings.

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The robbery took place at around 10:10am on 27 April in Dan Kwian subdistrict, Chok Chai district. Two masked men entered the shop while two female employees were inside, prompting the staff to flee to the back room after spotting them. The suspects, dressed in black long-sleeve shirts, shorts and face coverings, targeted a display cabinet containing gold rings.

Police said the men were unable to access gold necklaces due to protective grills, so they used a hammer to smash the cabinet and grab the rings. The entire incident lasted approximately 30 seconds. The suspects then escaped in a white Toyota Yaris sedan without a visible licence plate, triggering a nationwide alert.

Authorities later identified the suspects as 27-year-old Zou Qintao from Guangdong province and 19-year-old Song Haolong from Sichuan province. Investigators tracked the vehicle to a rental company in Bangkok, leading officers to a car hire shop in Prawet district where the pair were arrested. Police confirmed the suspects were found in possession of the stolen gold rings.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

No firearm was recovered, with the suspects allegedly claiming it had been discarded during their escape. Police said initial investigations indicated the pair had entered Thailand as tourists and both reportedly had Thai girlfriends. Authorities added that they allegedly ran out of money before planning the robbery.

The case has raised concerns about security at gold shops and the monitoring of foreign visitors involved in criminal activity. Police coordinated with immigration officers and local units to secure the arrests swiftly, highlighting cross-agency cooperation. Officials have not yet confirmed additional charges beyond robbery-related offences.

Khaosod reported that Investigators from Nakhon Ratchasima provincial police travelled to Bangkok to take custody of the suspects for further questioning. Evidence is being compiled for prosecution.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 28 Apr 2026

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And who thought using a rental car was a good idea?

they run out off money,they have a thai girlfreind🤣

UPDATE

Chinese Suspects Face Fresh Probe in Korat Gold Raid

Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid

Police in Nakhon Ratchasima have intensified questioning of two Chinese suspects arrested over a gold shop robbery, as new details emerge about their motives and prior actions. The pair are accused of stealing gold worth hundreds of thousands of baht and are now linked to an earlier attempted robbery. Authorities are preparing to reconstruct the crime scene on 28 April.

The suspects, identified as 27-year-old Zou Qintao and 19-year-old Song Haolong, were detained on 27 April following the robbery at a gold shop in Dan Kwian, Chok Chai district. Officers tracked them to a car rental shop in Prawet, Bangkok, where they were arrested the same day. They were later brought back for questioning and separated for detailed interrogation with the assistance of a Chinese interpreter.

Police said the robbery involved two masked men armed with a handgun who smashed several glass display cases using a hammer. Investigators have since recovered 44 gold rings weighing 156.9 grams and 24 pairs of gold earrings weighing 119 grams.

The suspects face charges of armed robbery, damaging protective barriers and using a vehicle to facilitate the crime and evade arrest. Officers confirmed that some of the stolen gold had already been sold, generating 16,800 baht. No firearm has been recovered, although the suspects claimed it was discarded during their escape.

During questioning, the pair allegedly said they had been lured to Thailand via an online offer to repair drones, with promises of payment of up to 40,000 US dollars per unit. They claimed to have travelled towards border areas near Cambodia and later Mae Sot in Tak province, but became fearful and did not proceed. After running out of money and being left with only 20 baht, they decided to commit the robbery.

Further investigation revealed the suspects had attempted a similar crime on 26 April in Ban Lueam district, also in Nakhon Ratchasima. CCTV footage from a convenience store captured one of the men prior to the aborted attempt, which was not carried out at the time.

The 74-year-old gold shop owner, Surasak Jirawongpaisan, said he was grateful to police for the swift arrest. He added that staff remained shaken by the incident but hoped for the return of the stolen gold and improved security measures to prevent similar crimes.

Police plan to take the suspects to the crime scene to reconstruct the events as part of the legal process. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence as the case proceeds.

Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 28 Apr 2026

9 hours ago, redwood1 said:

And who thought using a rental car was a good idea?

Put it down to their sly craft and subtle planning.