Phantom fail: Ghostly Chiang Mai gold heist ends in ghastly gaffe
In an audacious plot fit for a Halloween flick, a bungling gold thief’s disguise as a horror movie ghost backfired spectacularly when he found himself trapped in a shopping mall, leading to his swift arrest.
The wannabe thief, Etsara, dreamed up a daring heist at a renowned Chiang Mai shopping mall, planning to loot a gold shop by posing as a notorious cinematic spectre. However, the 21 year old’s ghostly guise didn’t conjure up success, instead, it landed him in the clutches of the law.
CCTV footage captured the ludicrous scene as Etsara, draped in a black cloak and ghost mask, emerged from a second-floor bathroom.
Armed with a crowbar, his spectral figure crept towards the Yaowarat Gold Shop. His plan? Pry open the shop’s iron door and make a rapid getaway with glittering treasures.
Yet, fate had other designs. When the shop manager locked up for the night, all gold had been secured in the safe, leaving not a single necklace in sight.
Stuck in a dead end, Etsara searched helplessly for an exit. Hours passed, but there was no escape route. Resigned to his predicament, he hid in the shop, awaiting dawn.
At 9am, it was business as usual for the shop staff, until they spotted suspicious signs of a break-in. Venturing inside, they discovered the ghostly interloper cowering behind the counter. Reacting swiftly, they locked him in, promptly alerting Mae Ping Police Station.
Police officers swiftly arrived, apprehending the trapped ghost. Etsara was quizzed at the scene before reenacting his comical crime, while forensic officers gathered vital evidence.
In a candid confession, a remorseful Etsara revealed he had cased the mall for three days. His motive? Financial desperation fuelled by dreams of higher education.
“I needed money to study for a bachelor’s degree at a state university in Chiang Mai. I apologise to my parents for my rash act.”
Etsara had strategically chosen the mall near his home for its proximity. His choice of a ghost costume? An homage to his favourite horror films, coupled with a practical need for anonymity, reported Channel 3 Plus.
Pol. Col. Yanapol Phatthanachai, Superintendent of Mae Ping Police Station, provided further insights.
“Etsara had arrived at the mall, parking his motorcycle at a nearby petrol station. By 5pm, he slipped into the mall, hiding until closing.
“He changed in the bathroom before using a crowbar to attempt the theft.”
However, the tight confines near the counter thwarted his exit attempts, leaving him stuck in a chilling predicament until his arrest.
Currently, Etsara faces charges of attempted theft by night, compounded by the destruction of a barrier. The police are investigating whether he had accomplices.
The peculiar case has captured the public’s imagination, sparking both incredulity and amusement. A spectral disguise proved no match for practical police work and the suspect’s own comedic blunders.
Etsara’s tale stands as a bizarre testament to the adage: crime doesn’t pay, especially when dressed as a ghost.
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