Phra khanong: A team of Metropolitan Police investigators has successfully arrested the "Straw Hat Robber," who committed a robbery at a gold shop in the Phra Khanong area and attempted to flee to a neighboring country.

According to Thai News Agency, the robber used a firearm to carry out the heist inside a shopping mall in the Sukhumvit area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Phra Khanong Police Station. The suspect managed to escape with approximately 198 baht weight of gold and about 170,000 baht in cash. The damages from the robbery are estimated to exceed 10 million baht.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasil Phoolsawat, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and his investigation team launched a manhunt for the suspect, dubbed the "Straw Bandit." The search, which lasted over three weeks, involved tracking the suspect who was disguised and wore a wig, while also monitoring suspected escape routes.

Today, Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasilp, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat Lueangwilai, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Investigation Division, and investigators from the Metropolitan Police Investigation Bureau and Phra Khanong Police Station, conducted a raid at a hideout in Chiang Rai. They successfully arrested Mr. Chalo, 29, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for "robbery at night, by overcoming obstacles protecting persons or property, using a weapon, and using a vehicle to facilitate the crime or the theft." He was apprehended at a hideout in Mae Suai Dam, Suai District, Chiang Rai Province, while preparing to flee to a neighboring country.

Initially, the suspect confessed to committing the gold robbery. Police are currently questioning him further before bringing him back to Phra Khanong Police Station, where the incident occurred, for legal proceedings.