Police are intensively tracking and pursuing. The "72-baht gold robbery" suspect. Escape route revealed: entered a secret alley, cut through forest, crossed railway tracks; clothes and wig burning site found but not yet confirmed to belong to the suspect.
On 28 August 2026, reporters updated on a brazen gold robbery in Aranyaprathet district. The suspect, a man wearing a hat, face mask, wig, and plaid cloak to conceal his identity, threatened staff and the public with a weapon resembling a bomb, then fled with gold weighing about 72 baht, valued at approximately 5 million baht.
Police Colonel Weepong Kongkaew, superintendent of Aranyaprathet Police Station, stated that officers are urgently investigating the suspect by using information on physical features, clothing, the motorcycle used, and evidence found along the escape route to aid the inquiry.
Reviewing CCTV along the route showed that after the incident, the suspect did not head toward Aranyaprathet town center as expected but made a U-turn, turning into an alley opposite the Lotus store—the crime scene—then proceeded toward the area behind Nimit Mai village.
This route is a small alley and village pathway, not a main road, bordered by forest and a canal, with a railway crossing. There is a passage allowing crossing or going under the railway to another village. The area also connects near the border, leading officials to suspect the suspect is familiar with the area since it is rarely used by the public and has multiple branching paths.
During pursuit, officers found a hat, clothes, and a wig in the area similar to those seen in images of the suspect during the crime, which had been burned and discarded with other rubbish villagers had thrown away.
However, police have not confirmed these items belong to the suspect, awaiting detailed forensic results. Reporters visiting the site found it to be a dense forest near a canal and railway line, a small dumping spot with signs of burning items and rubbish. Forensic officers collected objects and evidence for scientific examination and comparison with case evidence.
Preliminary investigation suggests the suspect may have removed and burned the clothes, wig, and hat used during the crime at this location to conceal identity and reduce chances of being tracked. This theory awaits forensic confirmation. Regarding suspect pursuit,
Police Colonel Weepong said police have coordinated with provincial investigators, various local police stations, and military personnel along the border to check motorcycles matching the description and continuously monitor routes and suspects.
Since Aranyaprathet district borders Thailand and Cambodia, officials have asked the military to monitor and inspect anyone attempting to flee the country, tightening security at border crossings.
The weapon used is under examination. Initial assumptions are that it was an object producing sound and smoke to scare victims and facilitate the crime and escape. It remains unclear whether the weapon was life-threatening, pending expert analysis.
Additionally, the Aranyaprathet Police Superintendent warned the public about online rumors spreading images of various individuals claimed to be the suspect. Some images have been altered using AI, causing misunderstandings. Police confirm no identity has been verified from online images and urge the public not to believe or share such images to avoid harming innocent people, their families, and schools.
Sharing accurate information is helpful to police work, but everyone should verify before distributing, especially images claiming to show the suspect. False information can cause damage and hinder investigations.