A 19-year-old tired of being “stepped on” by the rich and his 17-year-old accomplice were nabbed shortly after a brazen daytime gold shop robbery and shootout that left one of the teenagers with two bullet wounds.
The pair can be seen on CCTV footage from July 6 donning motorcycle helmets and casually approaching the Thong Yaowarat Ram-Intra, a gold shop near Soi Ram-Intra 39 in Bangkok. As they reached the door, the young criminals burst into action, sending a person nearby fleeing to safety.
The 19-year-old Sittichok Kheaw attempted to break the display case with a piece of wood, but unable to do so, he fired his gun to break the glass. It was then that shop-owner Sanid Prongjina returned fire from the staff area behind the display cases.
A gunfight ensued with Mr. Sanid and the 17-year-old exchanging a barrage of bullets as Sittichok – caught in the crossfire – frantically combed the display case, snagging 21 gold necklaces. During the shootout, the 17-year-old was hit by bullets in the stomach and back, after which he fled the shop with Sittichok close behind.
The pair were apprehended by police, along with their weapons and booty, hiding at a service station on nearby Soi Ram-Intra 37. Sittichok was taken into custody while his accomplice was taken to hospital for treatment, Channel 3 news reported.
Sittichok told police that he was a leaflet distributor earning THB200 a day, and a dishwasher for THB39 per hour. He said that he wanted a better life and thought that with just one gold necklace, he would be able to get married.
He also complained that he did not even have enough money to eat KFC chicken, and that the rich only like stepping on the poor.
Sittichok saved THB2,000 to buy a gun from one of his friends and admitted that he had never fired a weapon, and in fact, had not even planned out the robbery. He added that he should have saved the money, forgone stealing from others, and planned more for his future. He also got a lecture from the shop-owner – at whom he was shooting at earlier in the day – who said that the youngster should be a better person.
Indeed, shop-owner Mr. Sanid said that he had never fired a weapon himself. He said that he saw many times news of gold shops being robbed and bought the weapon for his protection. “I’d rather live and shoot the suspect than die,” he said. Both amateur gunmen managed to empty their clips in the exchange.
Police said the suspects may be members of the O-Boy gang as the 17-year-old was previously arrested on a drugs-related charge in March.
