Police Hunt Robbers After Major Gold Heist At Narathiwat Mall

NARATHIWAT, Oct 6 (TNA) - Thai police on Monday launched a large-scale manhunt for a heavily armed gang who stole an estimated 600 gold baht (about 9 kg) of gold from a jewellery shop in a shopping mall in the southern province of Narathiwat, officials said.

The robbery on Sunday evening at the Su-ngai Kolok mall injured a soldier and was executed in a highly coordinated fashion involving vehicle theft, the heist itself, and the use of explosives to cover the gang's escape.

CCTV footage reportedly showed about seven masked robbers, armed with guns and dressed in black, smashing display cases and fleeing with gold ornaments.

An off-duty special forces non-commissioned officer, Sgt Burit Radachai, exchanged fire with the suspects and was shot three times, sustaining wounds to his shoulder and face.

Authorities believe at least 10 people were involved in the operation. The gang first stole two pickup trucks from a home in Su-ngai Padi district on Sunday afternoon, which were then used as getaway vehicles.

After the robbery, the suspects left a suspected explosive device (a cooking gas cylinder) and scattered caltrops on the road outside the mall, damaging civilian cars and forcing a road closure. A separate, smaller explosion occurred 30 minutes later 500 metres away from the mall.

Forensic teams and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit are at the scene and have sealed off an area in Waeng district, near the Malaysian border, where the two stolen trucks were found. Authorities are collecting evidence and DNA samples.

Security forces have set up strict checkpoints across the southern border provinces and are coordinating with Malaysian authorities to close off potential escape routes. -819 (TNA)