A male suspect pretended to want to buy a table before seizing a 10-baht gold necklace from an 80-year-old man and fleeing, following gold prices breaking through 80,000 baht.
At 12:00 on 29 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wasukanya Thachipan, Deputy Investigating Officer at Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station, received a report of a thief snatching a 10-baht gold necklace and fleeing the scene. The incident occurred in Village 5, Soi Bon Kai, on the route to Alongkorn Dormitory, Liap Khlong Prem Road, Bang Phun Subdistrict, Mueang Pathum Thani District. Upon receiving the report, she notified her superiors before proceeding to the scene with Police Colonel Phatthanachai Phomrphiboon, Chief of Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station, along with Police Lieutenant Colonel Kantapong Phutthachat, Deputy Chief of Crime Suppression, Police Lieutenant Colonel Siraphop Bualuang, Deputy Chief of Investigation, Police Captain Itthaphon Phuttharaksa, Investigation Officer, patrol officers, and the investigative team of Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station.
At the scene, they found Mr. Chalerm Meesuk, 79, standing anxiously waiting for the police. He showed them a stainless steel table the suspect had asked to buy before forcibly snatching the gold necklace and fleeing by motorcycle. Police checked CCTV footage and identified the suspect as a man riding a black and blue automatic scooter designed for women. The police broadcasted a pursuit order but found no trace of the suspect.
When interviewed, Mr. Chalerm Meesuk, 79, revealed that he was sitting at his scrap metal shop when someone contacted him to buy a table. Initially, he declined, but the man said he wanted it for his child to use for studying. So, Mr. Chalerm drove a golf cart to bring the suspect’s motorcycle to follow him home. He then sat down on a wooden bench and pointed to the table inside, agreeing on a price of 400 baht. After the suspect brought the table and placed it beside him, he took money out of his pocket to pay.
At that moment, the suspect accidentally dropped a 100-baht bill. Mr. Chalerm bent down to pick it up, and the thief seized the opportunity to snatch the gold necklace from behind. Startled, Mr. Chalerm grabbed the Buddhist amulet around his neck, but the thief escaped with the 10-baht gold necklace. The suspect then fled on his motorcycle. Mr. Chalerm tried to chase but failed. Nearby workers ran out to help and called the police to investigate.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Siraphop Bualuang, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Pak Khlong Rangsit Police Station, said that after the incident, officers inspected the area, traced the suspect’s escape route, and are now using police techniques to track and arrest the suspect for legal action.
Additionally, reports show that on Thursday, 29 January 2026, gold prices opened 3,700 baht higher. This increase pushed the price of gold bars to 81,400 baht per baht weight and gold ornaments to 82,200 baht per baht weight.