Bang sao thong: “Yong,” a Cambodian man, has been arrested after a failed robbery attempt at a gold shop in the Bang Sao Thong area, where he inadvertently left behind the stolen gold. Yong used ping pong bombs in an effort to facilitate his escape but ultimately dropped the loot at the scene and fled without any gold. He was apprehended in Chanthaburi Province while trying to cross the border.
According to Thai News Agency, CCTV footage from the gold shop, located in a shopping mall in Bang Sao Thong District, Samut Prakan Province, showed the suspect donning a short-sleeved white t-shirt, grey trousers, a black balaclava, and carrying a grey and white bag. Armed with a gun, he vaulted over the gold cabinet to seize the gold before making his getaway on a motorcycle parked outside the mall.
The mall’s security cameras captured the entire sequence of events. The suspect, armed with a gun, entered the premises and ignited a ping pong bomb with a lighter, intending to use it to clear his path. However, the bomb detonated prematurely in his right hand, causing an injury to his palm. The incident occurred around 2:00 PM on October 18.
Upon receiving the report, Bang Sao Thong police arrived promptly at the gold shop. They found a broken glass window and gold necklaces scattered across the floor. Blood stains on the shop’s glass suggested that the suspect was injured by the bomb. Despite the chaos, none of the gold was missing, as the suspect abandoned it while fleeing. The incident caused significant alarm among mall patrons and staff.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Phumin Singhasut, Commander of Samut Prakan Provincial Police, assessed the scene and dispatched investigators. That evening, the investigation team located a white and red Honda Sumo X motorcycle, used by the suspect, parked at a car care shop in Soi Thai Prakan, Bang Sao Thong Subdistrict. Local residents identified the perpetrator as Mr. Awch Yong, a 31-year-old Cambodian national. After abandoning the motorcycle, he commandeered a van, later leaving it in the Bang Pla area, before escaping by taxi toward Samrong Nuea.
Further investigation revealed that Yong had previously shared news of a gold shop heist in the southern region on his Facebook page. Officers also discovered blood stains on the motorcycle’s accelerator handle. A ping pong bomb and a waist belt consistent with the CCTV footage were found, along with three lighters, which were collected as evidence.
A car care shop owner, who recognized Yong, confirmed his identity and recounted that Yong had worked there for a significant period without any issues. Yong, who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with his life, reportedly posted threats on social media, indicating a volatile state of mind.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Phumin Singhasut reported that immigration officers at the Ban Laem checkpoint in Chanthaburi Province apprehended Yong as he attempted to flee the country. Authorities are now coordinating his return to Samut Prakan for prosecution and further investigation into his motives and potential accomplices.