It took less than two minutes for at least three men to make off with THB6.1 million, and a nationwide manhunt has been launched to find them.
A group of thieves intercepted a money truck halted at an ATM in downtown Chonburi on Thursday and ordered the truck’s crew to lay down on the ground at gunpoint. They grabbed two sacks of cash and escaped in a waiting pick-up truck, along with another thief who’d been disguised as a lottery ticket seller, said Pongamorn Khamphukiew, one the truck’s security guards.
According to Pongamorn, the Siam Administrative Management Co. Ltd. truck from Pattaya was making rounds around the province to refill ATM machines with cash.
Witnesses said they saw the suspects’ vehicle pick up a lottery seller close by. Police believe the man was a lookout for the robbers, Khaosod reported.
Police failed to catch up to the truck after chasing them down the Chonburi-Baan Bueng Road. There were also metal caltrops strewn across the road, believed to have been scattered by the suspects.
Authorities at Muang Chonburi Police Station believe the criminals to be linked with a previous robbery in Chachoengsao province last month they said involved similar tactics and weapons.
Photo: NNT
