In a scene that seemed plucked straight out of a thriller, a Malaysian fugitive has shocked the southern province of Songkhla with a heist worth over 6.9 million baht. This daring tale of crime unfolded in the bustling streets of Hat Yai, notably at a gold shop on Montri 1 Road. On April 8th, an unsuspecting Monday, the man in question blended into the locale, sporting white trousers, a dark blue-grey polo shirt, and a hat. A crucial accessory? A black cross-body bag. His identity safely concealed behind a face mask, he stepped into the store with cold, calculated resolve.
The thrill escalated from there as surveillance footage captured the startling sequence of events. The man brazenly pointed at both the store’s employees and the shimmering display of gold accessories, all while issuing threats. The staff, prioritizing their safety, quickly stepped back, allowing this modern-day pirate to plunder his gold treasure. One employee, in a last-ditch hope to invoke some humanity, offered a wai, a gesture of respect, while pleading for him to halt his actions. Yet, his heart was set, his tricky fingers deftly placing gold necklaces and bracelets into his bag before he confidently fled the scene.
A chair propped against the front door was his subtle accomplice, keeping the path open and thwarting the possibility of being trapped inside. This tactical move facilitated his swift getaway on a waiting motorcycle. As numbers whirled around the minds of the shop owners, it was clear their establishment, with its lack of an enclosing security barrier and advanced safety systems, had been an easy target. They lamented to Channel 3, sharing intentions of enhancing security—a plan, alas, too late.
Who was this bold marauder? None other than Ye Boon Long, a 61-year-old Malaysian national with a notorious reputation. His name wasn’t new to the crime scene; back in 2007, he orchestrated a gold heist worth over 50 million baht in Malaysia and managed to escape the clutches of law enforcement by fleeing into Thailand. But extravagance and crime don’t lay dormant forever. His exploits include a chilling double murder in Koh Yor, Songkhla, in 2014, and another gold theft in 2017, where he snatched nearly 2.5 million baht, mere steps away from his latest target.
Despite his incarceration, Ye Boon Long was released last year, proving once again that even jail bars fail to quash the spirits of the unfettered. The Hat Yai Police Station has wasted no time issuing an arrest warrant. Yet, the elusive thief remains at large, casting a shadow over the district. Officers are on the hunt, updates remaining sparse but the determination palpable. The story continues to unravel across television screens and online feeds, with photos broadcast via platforms like Amarin TV and widely circulated on Facebook under Channel 7.
As the search for Ye becomes a hot topic, other news rushes in from Thailand, with tales ranging from the whimsical to the woeful. Whether it’s the reassurance of no coffee shortage or price hike issued almost humorously by DIT just seconds ago, or the breathtaking picture usurped by an ex-Israeli soldier cornered by his moonlighting endeavors in Koh Pha Ngan, there’s rarely a dull moment. Bangkok sees its beloved Wat Arun standing on UNESCO’s recognition doorstep, while charitable comedy nights lend smiles amid calamity.
Real-life ramifications collide with comedic clichés, life reflecting art in an amalgamation of the vibrant and visceral. Amidst this, Hat Yai stands on the precipice of justice, waiting, watching, and hopeful of a close to this daring drama.
I can’t believe someone with such a criminal record was released from prison. How does this even happen?
Probably due to good behavior. But clearly, that was a mistake!
It’s a failure of the justice system. He should have been monitored more closely.
Sometimes prisons are overcrowded, so they release less violent offenders. But this guy is dangerous!
That’s true, but it shows the need for better risk assessment before releasing such individuals.
The real issue is the lack of security at the shop. They need better measures in place.
Agreed. These places should have better protection considering the valuables they hold.
But isn’t it sad that we have to fortify everything because of people like Ye?
Absolutely, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Ye Boon Long has evaded capture for too long. The police need to up their game.
It’s like a real-life game of cat and mouse. Let’s hope the police catch him soon.
Indeed! Though I worry he might slip through their fingers again.
He’s certainly cunning, but technology now should make it more difficult for him to hide.
This guy is like a master criminal in an action movie, but it’s scary knowing he’s real.
Why does it take something like this for authorities to upgrade security measures?
It’s always reactive measures instead of preventive ones. Frustrating, isn’t it?
People usually learn the hard way, unfortunately.
Ye’s history is quite extensive. Each time they catch him, he just bounces back stronger.
It’s like he’s learned from each past mistake, making him more elusive.
Exactly! It’s almost as if he studies each countermeasure against him.
I wonder if he has accomplices who help him stay under the radar.
Does anyone else find it bizarre that a story like this is unfolding alongside news about coffee prices?
Well, it is the internet. People are interested in all sorts of things at once!
What a waste of taxpayer money, constantly trying to catch this guy!
This whole situation reminds me of those crime documentaries. Reality is scarier than fiction.
If Ye Boon Long can evade capture this long in today’s tech-savvy world, he must really know what he’s doing.
Someone needs to turn this into a movie. It’s got all the elements of a thriller already.
Part of me feels sorry for him; maybe he had a tough life, but still, no excuse for crime.