Thief uses 99 baht fake gun to attempt bank robbery in Thailand

A gas station cashier used a fake gun he bought online for 99 baht in an attempted robbery of a Kasikorn Bank brank in Kalasin province in northeast Thailand on Monday. Upon arrest, he told police that he was trying to win back the 300,000 baht which he stole from his workplace and gambled all away.

At 4.30pm, officers at Mueang Kalasin Police Station were informed that a man was using a gun to hold up a bank inside the Big C Department Store. A security guard tackled and detained the thief, 25 year old Yothin Khotwong, before he managed to steal any cash.

During interrogation, Yothin told the police that he works as a cashier at a gas station in the Mueang Kalasin district. He said that he repeatedly used the gas station’s money to gamble online until he lost 300,000 baht, reported ThaiRath.

He told the police that he wanted to return all of the money to the gas station’s account so he thought he would order a fake gun online and use it in a bank heist.

Yothin carried the 99 baht gun into Big C, walked into the bank, and threatened a customer using the bank’s services with the gun.

“Give me 1 million baht and I won’t do anything,” Yothin said to the customer at fake gunpoint. Moments later he was pinned down by security guards who confiscated his “firearm.”

Big C security guard, 55 year old Mongkol Phuying, said that he was on duty when he noticed the assailant walking into the bank. At that time, there were two customers inside the bank, said Mongkol.

As soon as the thief demanded 1 million baht from the customer, Mongkol said that he knew the gun wasn’t real. The security guard said he is trained to spot fake guns and that the thief’s behaviour gave it away. Mongkol described Yothin’s posture as “not scary.”

Trusting his skills, Mongkol leapt into action and captured the thief with the help of a male customer while the bank staff pressed the alarm and rang 191.

Police charged Yothin with attempted robbery, threatening others and confining others. He confessed to all three counts and will be prosecuted according to the law.