Hat Yai, Songkhla –
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy suspected of staging a solo gold shop robbery inside a popular shopping mall in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province. The dramatic arrest took place at Ubon Ratchathani bus terminal after the teenager fled across the country in an attempt to evade capture.
The incident occurred on February 3rd, when the suspect allegedly stormed into a gold shop located opposite Prince of Songkla University’s Hat Yai campus. He made off with gold jewelry weighing a total of 33 baht (approximately 500 grams). Security camera footage and witness testimony quickly identified him as the prime suspect.
According to investigators, the youth initially hid the stolen jewelry with a friend in Songkhla before boarding a flight from Hat Yai Airport to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport. From there, he continued his escape by bus to Ubon Ratchathani. Acting on intelligence, officers from the Crime Suppression Division coordinated across units and intercepted him at the bus terminal on February 4th at around 6:45 p.m.
Police reported that the suspect panicked when approached, attempting to flee before being subdued. During questioning, he confessed to the crime and disclosed the location where the stolen gold had been hidden. A subsequent raid on his friend’s residence in Songkhla uncovered more than 30 gold necklaces, which were seized as evidence.
Authorities are now conducting further inquiries to determine whether others were involved in concealing the stolen property. The case has drawn public attention due to the suspect’s young age and the bold nature of the crime.
