Armed Robbers Flee to Laos After 13M Baht Gold Heist
Two armed robbers escaped to Laos after stealing nearly 13 million baht in gold from a shopping mall in Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong district, crossing the Mekong River by boat after abandoning their motorcycle.
Two armed gunmen robbed a gold shop inside a well-known shopping mall in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province on the evening of August 4. The suspects made off with 64 baht of gold ornaments and 120 baht of gold bracelets, totaling 184 baht in stolen gold valued at 13,036,400 baht. On August 5, Pol. Lt. Col. Manop Senakul, commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, revealed that both suspects are Lao nationals. After the robbery, they fled on a motorcycle, parked it at the Mekong riverbank, and boarded a waiting boat to cross into Huay Sai district, Laos. Authorities have collected evidence and coordinated with immigration officials in Chiang Saen, examined fingerprints, and interviewed local motorcycle rental operators. A preliminary reward of 100,000 baht has been set for the arrest of the suspects, and Thai police are coordinating with Lao authorities to pursue legal proceedings. Lao officials have tracked the escape route and seized clothing believed to have been worn by the robbers at the crime scene, which was discarded in Huay Sai. The suspects are believed to have fled further from the Huay Sai area, with Lao authorities setting up checkpoints along various routes to intercept them.
