NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand – Police are urgently tracking down two masked suspects who carried out an armed gold shop robbery in Dan Kwian, Chok Chai district, on April 27, escaping with an estimated 20–30 gold rings worth around 300,000–400,000 baht.
The incident occurred at around 10:21 a.m. at a gold shop in the Dan Kwian area, where the two men, both wearing black hooded masks and dark clothing, reportedly entered the premises armed with a handgun and a hammer-like object. They smashed multiple glass display cases before swiftly grabbing gold rings and fleeing in a getaway car.
The shop owner, 74-year-old Suphasin Jirawongpaisan, said the suspects appeared calm and professional throughout the robbery, showing no panic as they carried out the theft before escaping within minutes. Staff inside the shop were left shocked by the sudden and violent incident.
Following the escape, police from Chok Chai Police Station, along with forensic officers and investigative teams, launched a coordinated search operation. A suspicious vehicle was later reported abandoned near Lam Moon Bridge in Dan Kwian, prompting authorities to inspect the area.
At the scene, investigators found tire tracks, cigarette butts labeled as a Chinese brand, and a takeaway food bag from a convenience store. These items have been collected as evidence as police explore possible leads, including the suspicion that the suspects may be foreign nationals, though officials stressed that this has not yet been confirmed.
A local resident, 18-year-old Thitawat Bokkrathok, said he noticed a suspicious car parked with its lights on the night before the robbery, but only realized its possible connection to the crime after hearing news of the heist the following morning.
Another witness, 52-year-old Veerasak Kungmareng, said he briefly followed the suspects on a motorcycle after the robbery in an attempt to identify the license plate, but stopped pursuing them after fearing for his safety.
Police officials confirmed that the suspects are believed to still be in the area. A large-scale manhunt is underway, with investigators reviewing CCTV footage along possible escape routes in an effort to track and apprehend the duo.
Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activity as the search continues.
