Aranyaprathet: Police are on the hunt for a thief who stole 72 baht weight of gold and escaped without a trace after an audacious heist in a Sa Kaeo province shopping mall. The suspect threw a grenade-like object to create a diversion before making off with the gold, valued at over 5 million baht.

According to Thai News Agency, panic broke out in the mall when the suspect, wearing a plaid shirt, long pants, a wig, and a face mask, threw an object resembling an explosive device. The suspect then swiftly stole the gold from display cases and fled on an electric motorcycle. CCTV footage captured the suspect entering the mall around noon and leaving just minutes later.

Police traced the suspect's movements via CCTV and discovered that the suspect initially escaped into a small alley opposite the mall, rather than heading towards Aranyaprathet town. This path, known to be seldom used by the public, is flanked by wooded areas and a canal, with potential routes leading across or under railway tracks to another village and connecting to the border.

During their investigation, officers found burned items, including a shirt, hat, and wig, believed to belong to the suspect, though confirmation is pending a forensic examination. Police Colonel Weepong Kongkaew stated that police have intensified checks on individuals and motorcycles matching the suspect's description and are collaborating with the military to monitor border areas for anyone attempting to flee the country.

Initial assumptions about the weapon used in the heist suggest it may have been a device that produced noise and smoke to create fear, rather than a lethal weapon, but further expert examination is required. Authorities have also issued a warning against spreading false images on social media, which could harm innocent individuals and impede the investigation.