One Mongolian killed, two others injured in failed gun shop heist
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Police foiled the alleged attempt by four Mongolian men to rob a gun shop out of firearms. Three of them were injured in a shootout with policemen and one of the alleged robbers died later at a hospital, police said.
The robbery of Inter Arms shop in Burapha area happened at 11 am. Pol Captain Thawatchai Phiewpong, deputy crime suppression inspector of Samrarn Raj police station, and another policemen were making a routine patrol and was also shopping in the area so they exchanged a gunfire with the robbers.
Three of the robbers were shot and one of the injured tried to escape into a nearby soi. Three suspects were arrested at the shop
The two policemen called a backup and police sealed off the area and managed to arrest the fourth suspect inside a building on Soi Sirichai 1 about an hour later.
Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Jakthip Chaijinda told reporters that the Mongolian gang had five members and police are now searching for the fifth suspect, who is believed to be the gang leader.
Jakthip said the alleged gang leader has visited Thailand several times while the four other suspects entered Thailand for the first time on February 27.
Jakthip said the Mongolian robbers wanted guns from the shop but it was still unknown what they planned to use the guns for.
The national police chief said the four robbers checked the scene on Thursday.
Police suspected that certain Thais might help the gang plan the robbery, Jakthip added.
Police said the four robbers were initially armed with BB guns and a knife. One of them hurt the shop owner with a knife, forcing him to open a safe box.
Thitithorn Buppharummanee, president of the Gun Traders Association in Thailand, said there are over 60 gun shops in Burapha area and most of them have been selling guns for over 60 years.
The shops have been strictly observing the rules to sell guns to only residents who have been living in the country for over six months and who have license to possess a firearm.
Thitithorn said it was the first time that there was attempt to rob guns from one of the gun shops.
He said all the shops have tight safety by coordinating with a police station nearby and patrol police often frequent the area.
