Thai man robs store for 900 baht to buy rice for sick family
A Thai man was arrested for robbing a convenience store using a fake gun, tearfully confessing he had no money to buy rice for his sick mother-in-law and wife. The 24 year old, Thanawut Thiapthanom, admitted to the crime, stating he also used drugs to help him work longer hours and earn more money. He was tracked and seized by police officials following an analysis of CCTV footage from the robbed shop.
On December 5, at 4.40 am, a slender man of about 170 centimetres tall, dressed in a black jacket and dark trousers, entered a convenience store. He requested to exchange 500 baht but as the shop assistant counted the money, the man brandished a fake gun and demanded cash. He swiftly fled the scene in a parked car.
The incident was reported to local authorities who, using CCTV footage, identified the getaway vehicle as a sedan car. They later matched this with a similar vehicle involved in a separate theft case where two birds worth 5,000 baht were stolen.
After identifying the car’s registration number, the police tracked down Thanawut, the registered owner of the vehicle. He was found at his residence in a province where, upon a search, a grey plastic gun and other incriminating items were found.
Upon interrogation, Thanawut confessed to his crimes. His wages as a security guard for a company were 350 baht a day, paid biweekly. When he requested an advance of 200 baht to buy 5 kilogrammes of rice for his ailing mother-in-law and wife, the company refused, citing his failure to stay awake during his duty hours and suspending him from work. Desperate, he planned and executed the robbery, stealing 900 baht which he used to buy rice for his family.
Thanawut also confessed to drug use, stating he used drugs to help him work longer hours to earn more money. He insisted he did not use his earnings as a security guard to buy drugs, but instead worked as a runner, fetching drugs for others in exchange for his supply.
He has been charged with robbery at night with a gun, possession of a firearm without a permit, and drug possession. The investigation continues as per the law, reported KhaoSod.
