A WELL-MANNERED thief who gave a wai after pulling a fake pistol to rob a money exchange shop on Silom road and getting 93,000 baht following five other failed stickups in this area was arrested today (May 27), Thai Rath newspaper said.
Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Sayam Boonsom led a team to arrest Mr. Aman Siddiqui, 23, an Indian national, on charges of nighttime robbery with firearm, using a vehicle in carrying out a crime and possessing a firearm and ammunition without permission and carrying it in public, in Charoen Nakhon road area with 50,000 baht found as evidence.
At 7.30 p.m. last night Bang Rak police station got reports of robbery attempts at many shops with the last two being a money exchange shop on road Suriwong road, where the robber did not get any cash, and finally did so at a money exchange shop on Silom road, walking away with 93,000 baht.
The robber was described as being around 180 centimetres tall, tanned, with short black hair and a beard, and wearing a black hoodie, black pants and black sneakers. He rode off on a black motorcycle towards Sala Daeng intersection.
Investigation showed that the suspect attempted six robberies, three times in Yanawa police station jurisdiction, once in Wat Phraya Krai police station zone, and twice in Bang Rak police station zone but only getting cash the final time.
Upon tracking down the suspect to his residence with surveillance camera clips and getting a warrant to search it, the police team arrested him after finding 50,000 baht there.
The suspect initially refused to confess but aside from the money police also found the clothes he wore on the day of the robbery and the motorcycle he rode during the attempted robberies. He said the cash was his own savings and he brought it along on this trip to spend on Thai women.
Police said the pistol he used was a fake one and he was later taken for crime reenactment at all six places.
The staff member at the Silom money exchange shop told reporters that the robber came in pretending to exchange money but instead drew a pistol and placed it on the table. He got scared but did tell him he didn’t have any money, but he kept threatening him.
He first gave him some hundred baht notes but the robber said, “give me the money first then call the police,” so he gave him a bundle of 500-baht notes.
Before leaving the robber gave him a wai then thanked him and apologised.
CAPTION:
The suspect at the money exchange shop on Silom road, above, and police searching his belongings at his residence. Photos: Thai Rath
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