Police suspect single gunslinger responsible for two 7-Eleven stickups

PHUKET: Phuket police suspect that a single gun-wielding robber is responsible for two 7-Eleven stickups yesterday.

The first robbery took place at 1am at a 7-Eleven store on Ranong Road in Phuket Town. Then, at 10pm, a 7-Eleven at Baan Kien in Thalang was also robbed.

“We believe the two robberies may well be connected, as the robber caught on CCTV footage at both stores looks the same and, according to witnesses, spoke with a central Thai accent,” Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette.

Police believe the robber to be about 25-35 years old. CCTV footage shows him threatening staff at both stores with a gun and making them take money from the cash registers and safety boxes.

“However, the man who made off with just over 17,000 baht from the 7-Eleven store in Ranong Road sped away on a motorbike without a licence plate, while the man in Baan Kien casually walked away with 6,500 baht,” said Deputy Superintendent Chao Phomna of the Phuket City Police.

“We are checking CCTV footage in the Baan Kien area to see if we can trace the steps of the man’s escape route.”

Lt Col Chao said two other 7-Eleven robberies last month were also caught on CCTV, but he could not confirm whether or not they were connected with the crimes yesterday.

One of those last month involved a knife-wielding man and his accomplice who robbed a 7-Eleven in Rassada, north of Phuket Town (story here).

Police are still searching for the men involved in the previous robberies.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong