NAKHON RATCHASIMA— Thai police have arrested two Chinese nationals suspected of carrying out a daring daylight robbery at a gold shop in the Dan Kwian subdistrict of the Chok Chai district earlier on Monday, April 27th, 2026. All stolen gold items were recovered during the swift operation.
The incident occurred around 10:10–10:21 a.m. at Yaowarat Gold Shop on Sukhaphiban 1 Road. Two masked suspects, wearing full-face hoods, long-sleeved black shirts, and shorts, burst into the shop armed with a handgun. They used a hammer-like object to smash several glass display cases and grabbed approximately 30–40 gold rings, roughly 2–3 handfuls, valued at an estimated 300,000–400,000 baht (around US$9,000–12,000).
The robbers operated with notable composure, showing no signs of panic, which shop owner Mr. Suphasin Chirawongpaisan, 74, described as professional. They fled in a white Toyota Yaris with obscured license plates, heading towards the Chok Chai intersection. A brave local resident pursued them on a motorcycle for about 300 meters before stopping due to safety concerns.
Investigators quickly found evidence suggesting the suspects might be foreigners. Near a bridge in the Lam Mun area, police discovered Chinese-brand cigarette butts, packaging, and convenience store food bags left behind, along with tire tracks. This caused early speculation that the suspects were not local.
Provincial police, supported by Region 3 investigators, mobilized rapidly, using CCTV footage and other leads to track the pair to the Prawet district in Bangkok. By 6:30 p.m. the same day, the two Chinese suspects, aged 27 and 18, were arrested. Authorities recovered all the stolen gold, according to reports.
Thai Authorities later confirmed the men were Chinese nationals identified as 27-year-old Zou Qintao from Guangdong province and 19-year-old Song Haolong from Sichuan province.
The case has drawn significant attention in Thai media due to its brazen nature in a busy local market area and the speed of the police response. No injuries were reported, though staff and residents were left alarmed by the audacious daytime heist.
The firearm was not recovered with the suspects claiming they had discarded it. They admitted they were on tourists visas, said Thai authorities, and claimed they had run out of money and hatched the plan as a way to help pay for the needs of their Thai girlfriends.
