An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect who stole 184 baht of gold from a prominent mall in Chiang Khong, valued at 13 million baht. Authorities are urgently coordinating with Laotian officials to pursue and capture him, noting he has a prior history of robbery in Laos.
On 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7, progress was reported on the gold shop robbery in Chiang Khong district on 4 Aug, where the perpetrator seized gold jewelry totaling 184 baht, with damages estimated at around 13 million baht.See related report: “100,000-Baht Reward Offered for Two Gold Robbers at Chiang Khong Mall; Cooperation with Laos to Track Suspects”)
Currently, investigators at Chiang Khong Police Station have gathered evidence leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant for a key Laotian suspect, Mr. KHAMTID PONPASID, also known as Thao Khamtik Ponpasid. International cooperation is underway to locate and bring him to justice.
Pol. Col. Ratwich Wasinpongthanat, chief of Chiang Khong Police, updated that the station, together with Chiang Saen Immigration (Chiang Khong Office), has coordinated with the Thai Embassy in Vientiane and local authorities in Huaysai district to assist in tracking Mr. KHAMTID PONPASID, identified by his Laotian passport (wearing a red-hooded shirt).
Joint operations between Laotian Public Security police and Thai investigators, including two officers sent by Chiang Khong Police, have made significant progress. Efforts continue to gather critical evidence for the case file, such as clothing worn during the crime found at a residence in Muang Namtha (though not registered there) and the white Toyota Camry car, license plate WK1222 from Vientiane, abandoned at the scene.
Information indicates the vehicle was borrowed from a sibling in Huaysai district to flee to Muang Namtha. This case is serious and considered a security matter, with the National Police Chief closely monitoring and ordering swift action to apprehend the suspect.
Further investigations to identify another suspect and accomplices revealed from Chiang Khong Immigration that Thao Khamtik has crossed the district multiple times under different names, typically using the official border checkpoint at the Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Chiang Khong-Huaysai). Only during the crime was there a record of crossing via a local river port from Khon Kaen pier to Bakk pier at Hua Wiang village, Wiang subdistrict. This unusual route suggests deliberate avoidance of official checkpoints to facilitate vehicle access for the crime before abandoning the car and fleeing by boat.
Additionally, the Chiang Khong Police chief noted that police enforcement has instructed all gold shops to install protective barriers against robbery, with store owners coordinating directly with installation companies. Police support for on-site personnel deployment is available upon request. However, the targeted shop had not requested police presence and it is unclear if an emergency alarm system was in place. Most gold shops tend to rely on insurance coverage rather than physical security measures.
Following this incident, Chiang Khong Police see the need to implement comprehensive prevention systems covering gold shops, border crossings, and vehicle rental businesses near river ports, with stricter security protocols. Given the border location allows rapid cross-border escape, authorities are confident of capturing suspects if they remain in Thailand, as surveillance is in place. Discussions with relevant agencies will continue to establish sustainable crime prevention across the Mekong River border.
Mr. Surachet Puynoi, Chiang Khong District Chief, stated that coordination with Huaysai district authorities in Bokeo province has been ongoing since the incident. They confirmed the suspect fled to Muang Namtha, prompting Bokeo officials to liaise with Muang Namtha police to follow up on evidence and provide local support. This runs alongside international cooperation involving Chiang Khong Police, Chiang Rai Provincial Police Command, Chiang Saen Immigration, and the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Administrative discussions are also underway to enhance border incident prevention systems.
Members of the Bakk Pier Vehicle and Boat Rental Club commented that vehicle rentals still proceed without collecting Laotian identification documents, unlike previous stricter practices. They view this crime as an isolated case and wish to avoid impacting others. Over the past 30 years, no issues arose because most renters are Laotians vetted at immigration checkpoints with verified documents. For convenience and familiarity, deposits and document requirements remain lenient. However, this is a topic for further discussion, though current practices continue unchanged.
For Thai nationals or foreigners (non-Laotians), standard ID collection procedures apply, as Laotians typically rent vehicles for short trips like shopping at Lotus or markets before returning. The intent of Thai or foreign renters is less clear, warranting stricter documentation.
A Laotian source added that the suspect named in the arrest warrant lives in Huaysai district, owns multiple houses, has a prior record of robbery in Laos, and is known for gambling and gaming addictions.