Two Chinese men wearing balaclavas have been arrested for robbing gold at Dan Kwian, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, before fleeing by car to Bangkok. Police eventually caught them with over 30 gold rings seized as evidence, valued at around 380,000 baht.
At 10:10 a.m. on 27 April 2026, two suspects wearing balaclavas covering their faces brazenly broke into a gold shop inside Dan Kwian Village, Dan Kwian Subdistrict, Chok Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima. Armed with handguns, they used a hammer-like object to smash several glass cases in the shop, stealing about 30 gold rings valued at approximately 380,000 baht before fleeing in a white Toyota sedan.
At 6:30 p.m. the same day, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Palop Aermla, Deputy Commissioner, Pol. Maj. Gen. Kampanat Arunkiriroj, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4, Pol. Col. Thotsaphon Ampaipipatkul, Chief of Pravet Police Station, and investigation teams from Metropolitan Police Divisions 4 and 5 and Phra Khanong Police Station, jointly arrested the suspects, Zou Qintao, 27, and Song Haolong, 19, at a car rental point in Soi Sukhumvit 77, Pravet District, Bangkok. Over 30 gold rings were seized in a box.
Following coordination with Chok Chai Police Station, Region 3 investigation teams, and immigration police, authorities intercepted the suspects after the robbery and their subsequent vehicle escape. They are currently in custody at Pravet Police Station undergoing questioning.
Pol. Col. Thotsaphon Ampaipipatkul, Chief of Pravet Police Station, said the suspects rented a car from a rental agency in Pravet jurisdiction before committing the robbery and fleeing in that vehicle. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage to identify the car’s license plate and continuously broadcasted a request to intercept the vehicle starting from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
Coordination with Metropolitan Police investigation units and the Division of Special Operations led to contact with Pravet Police Station. Patrol officers proceeded to the location and contacted the car rental owner to stall for time. When the suspects returned the vehicle, Pravet patrol officers arrested them and found the stolen gold rings in a bag used during the robbery.
Authorities are awaiting officers from Chok Chai Police Station in Nakhon Ratchasima to take custody of the suspects, complete arrest records at Pravet Police Station, and transfer them back to the local police station where the crime occurred for prosecution.
Initial reports indicate the suspects came to Thailand as tourists and had Thai girlfriends. After spending their money, they planned and executed the gold robbery. Currently, the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police investigation team is traveling to Bangkok to bring both suspects back for further questioning in Nakhon Ratchasima.
