KUALA LUMPUR — Thai authorities believe more than ten armed robbers have fled to Malaysia after staging a brazen gold heist in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on Sunday evening.
The gang is suspected to have escaped with gold ornaments worth approximately 36 million baht — equivalent to around RM4.7 million, The Nation reported.
The robbery took place yesterday at around 7.07pm at a gold shop located inside a shopping mall in downtown Sungai Kolok, triggering panic among shoppers.
Eyewitnesses told police that eight armed men stormed the premises, seized a large quantity of gold, and fled the scene. In a bid to delay pursuit, the robbers reportedly scattered road spikes and planted what was believed to be a homemade bomb on a U-turn in front of the mall.
During the heist, several security guards were briefly detained and had their walkie-talkies confiscated. An army sergeant, identified as Sgt Buris Radachai, was shot while shopping at the mall.
The gang then escaped in two pickup trucks that had been reported stolen earlier by local residents.
Investigators now believe at least ten individuals were involved in the operation — eight directly in the robbery and others assisting by stealing vehicles and laying traps to obstruct police response.
While authorities have not confirmed whether the robbery was linked to southern insurgent groups, they noted that the use of road spikes and improvised explosive devices is consistent with tactics employed by Muslim insurgents active in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces.
The robbers are believed to have fled towards Tambon Sakor in Waeng district before crossing into Malaysia via a hidden trail early Monday morning.
Police estimate that approximately 600 baht-weight of gold ornaments were stolen, with one baht-weight equivalent to 15.244 grammes.
Forensic officers have collected fingerprints from the scene, and bomb disposal experts were deployed to inspect and safely defuse the explosive device.
Police have also released photographs of the stolen vehicles and urged the public to contact the 1341 or 191 hotlines if they spot them.
Thai authorities said they would seek cooperation from Malaysian police to help locate and apprehend the suspects. – October 6, 2025