Temple thief shooting “self-defense’: Phuket Police

PHUKET: A man gunned down by police on Sunday was shot in self-defense, police say.

“Police were chasing him, and the robber started shooting at the officers, so they returned fire,” Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit said.

The man was shot four times in the chest.

“He died instantly at the scene,” Col Wanchai added.

No identification was found on the body. Police believed he was Burmese and working illegally as a laborer.

Officers were pursuing the man after responding to a call at about 1:30am reporting that Koh Sireh Temple had been broken into.

The temple had recently suffered a spate of burglaries, Col Wanchai explained.

Police arrived at the scene to find the man trying to rob the donation box, he said.

When the man saw the officers, he ran into the surrounding forest, Col Wanchai said.

Police also suspect the man was involved in other criminal activities and may have been part of a gang, the colonel added.

— Atchaa Khamlo