19-7-2024 (BANGKOK) A tense four-hour standoff between police and an armed robbery suspect in Samut Sakhon concluded late Thursday night with the successful apprehension of 35-year-old Nithirat Rangnoi. The suspect, wanted for an attempted gold necklace theft at gunpoint, was finally cornered in a local dormitory after a week-long manhunt.
The incident that sparked the pursuit occurred on Friday, 12th July, in the neighbouring Nakhon Pathom province. Nithirat allegedly targeted a som tam (papaya salad) vendor in Samphran district, employing a cunning ruse to catch the retailer off guard. After finishing his meal, he reportedly asked for a bottle of alcohol, using the moment to follow the unsuspecting vendor and threaten her at gunpoint, demanding her 3-baht-weight (45.5 grams) gold necklace.
The situation escalated when the vendor and her son resisted, prompting Nithirat to discharge his firearm approximately ten times before fleeing on a motorcycle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the victims promptly filed a police report the following day.
Following a meticulous investigation, authorities traced Nithirat to a dormitory in Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon, where he had sought refuge in his girlfriend’s room. The suspect’s refusal to surrender and his threatening stance towards the police led to a protracted negotiation process.
In an attempt to peacefully resolve the situation, law enforcement officials enlisted the help of Nithirat’s family members and local community leader, Om Noi subdistrict mayor Boonchu Nilthanom. Despite a poignant appeal from his elder sister, reminding him of a promise made to their late mother to avoid trouble, Nithirat remained unresponsive.
The standoff took a dramatic turn when police deployed advanced tactics, including drone surveillance and the use of tear gas and smoke grenades. After finding the suspect’s presumed hideout empty, a thorough search led to the discovery of Nithirat concealed in the ceiling of an adjacent room.
Realising the futility of further resistance, Nithirat finally surrendered, handing over his weapon before carefully descending from his hiding place. He now faces a litany of charges, including attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal firearm possession, and reckless discharge of a weapon in public.
Local authorities confirmed that the operation concluded without any injuries, marking a successful resolution to a potentially volatile situation.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that Nithirat, a Nakhon Pathom native employed as an electrician in Krathum Baen, had reportedly been grappling with an online gambling addiction. This information, provided by his girlfriend, sheds light on potential motivations behind the desperate act that led to this dramatic confrontation with law enforcement.
