Songkhla—
On May 7th, 2024, Hat Yai police officers and relevant agencies held a press conference on a major case of firearm robbery at a former gun store in Hat Yai, Songkhla. The police seized 37 units of firearms.
At 2 AM, on May 5th, Hat Yai patrol police officers reportedly were performing their duty regularly and witnessed suspicious activities involving three suspects, who had transported 15 firearms and ammunition from a motorcycle sidecar on Kukrit Road, Hat Yai. One of them was captured.
The Hat Yai police investigated the case and discovered that the firearms were stolen from a former large gun store as there were traces of robbery found.
According to the police report, a group of five suspects, publicly identified as Mr. Atchariya Kraisuwan, 32, Mr. Somsak Khamsathit, 40, Mr. Watcharaporn Chiambut, 32, Mr. Somchai Kaewthong, 34, and Mr. Sobprasong Promdej, 41, had conspired to rob a large gun store in Hat Yai.
The robbery operation happened between May 4th to the 6th and a total of 37 units of firearms including six pistols and 31 rifles were stolen from the gun store.
Upon further investigation, the Hat Yai police officers tracked down four other suspects involved in the late-night robbery and returned all the stolen firearms to the rightful owner. It was reported by local media that the five suspects confessed to the police that they had prepared the firearms to distribute to customers at a cost of 20,000 to 30,000 baht each.
The theft gang members reportedly chose abandoned residences to hide after the robbery. However, the Hat Yai police were able to capture all of them before seizing the firearms that might be used to commit future crimes.
