The bustling city of Hat Yai has been in the spotlight recently due to the daring escapades of one of its residents, Thapanas Nookate. This 38-year-old man, hailing from the southern city, caught the attention of both the media and law enforcement alike after his brazen heist at the Aurora gold shop, situated on the second floor of the Big C superstore in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani.
Thapanas’s story could easily be spun into a thrilling crime novel. With a meticulously hatched plan spanning days, it culminated in a dramatic theft, netting him a glittering bounty of gold ornaments and bars valued at over 5 million baht. However, his freedom was short-lived. The police apprehended him in the buzzing vicinity of a shopping mall in Bang Khae, Bangkok, merely four days after he attempted to disappear into the city’s shadows. The arrest was spearheaded by the diligent work of Pol Lt Gen Akkharadet Pimonsri, who’s become somewhat of a crime-fighting legend in the police force.
For Thapanas, the thrill of the heist included an accessory—a motorcycle sans a license plate—an essential for quick getaways. Though his plan seemed foolproof, it was far from it when law enforcement closed in. Alongside capturing Thapanas, they seized the ill-gotten gains—three gold bars complemented by a gold necklace adorned with an amulet, adding up to 11 baht or a hefty 167 grams in weight.
Sleuths had their task cut out for them, thanks in part to security camera footage showing Thapanas making a pre-robbery survey trip to the Big C superstore in the serene tambon Bueng Kham Phroi. On the day of the robbery, he defied ordinary and executed his scheme, which netted him an eye-watering 113-baht weight (1.7 kilograms) worth of gold necklaces and bars, totaling an estimated 5.4 million baht.
With the gold safely stowed away in his getaway vehicle, Thapanas ensured any trace of his means of escape was erased by dumping the motorcycle into the Rangsit Prayoonsak canal in the Khlong Hok area of Thanyaburi district. Unexpectedly, this bid to cover his tracks would offer little in delaying his inevitable capture.
In an additional twist to the unfolding drama, Thapanas was taken back to the crime scene for a police re-enactment—a moment where reality intersects with the theatrical. This was not the end of the saga, though. Seizing upon a potential breakthrough, Pol Lt Gen Akkharadet expanded the investigation, leading to a major discovery. Hidden within the home of Thapanas’s wife were 52 more stolen gold necklaces, collectively weighing 50 baht.
Not one to work entirely alone, Thapanas had entrusted some of his stolen goods with two accomplices—his friends. The police exerted all efforts to track down these two elusive characters in hopes of recovering the remaining jewels of Thapanas’s temporary fortune.
Facing the gravity of his situation, Thapanas confessed to his crime during questioning, admitting that he had meticulously acquainted himself with every inch of the gold shop and its environs over three days. This premeditation, however, did not safeguard him from the long arm of the law. The once carefully spun web unraveled, laying bare the life lesson that crime—and the thrill of it—is always shadowed by the pursuit of justice.
Wow, this heist seems like something out of a movie. Thapanas is really bold for pulling this off in broad daylight!
I think he might have watched one too many crime films and thought he could get away with it. Reality check, dude!
Seriously, but you have to admit, it’s kind of impressive he planned it out so well, even if it failed.
Considering the stolen gold is worth over $150,000, this wasn’t just some petty crime. He must’ve had a legitimate motive behind it other than thrill-seeking.
Absolutely, but I wonder what kind of desperation or greed would drive someone to plan something like this. Seems like something went very wrong in his personal life.
What’s sad is that he trusted his friends, and they could easily betray him if they feel the heat from the cops.
True, but the fact that they were willing to hold the stolen goods shows they’re in it together. I’d be more worried about dropping the motorcycle as a clue.
Gold is proven to be one of the biggest motivators for crime throughout history. Nookate was doomed from the start with this old human obsession.
I wonder how they stumbled upon the 52 gold necklaces in his wife’s house. Do you think she was in on it?
It’s possible but not necessarily. She might’ve been unaware of the origins. People often leverage their trust in family, sometimes under worse circumstances.
Yeah, or maybe she was just trying to protect him. Families do crazy things for each other.
I bet he just wanted to show off and thought he was a mastermind. Reality is always harsh. At least the police were able to catch him in time.
He probably didn’t realize how many experts are actually working in law enforcement. They have it all figured out these days with tech.
Yeah, though it’s kind of insane to think someone would take that kind of risk to begin with.
I don’t believe a word of it. This story sounds too theatrical to be true. Must be something else behind the scenes.
There are crazier true stories out there, and people tend to do the unbelievable under pressure. The police have to disclose the truth eventually.
Just another reason we should ditch the obsession with gold! It causes more harm than it’s worth.
Does anyone else find the police re-enactment bizarre? It feels like they’re turning his crime into a stage show.
Totally agree. They should focus on preventing future crimes, not dramatizing the past ones.
Exactly. Maybe it’s to send a message to future criminals but feels like overkill.
How do you steal that much gold without getting noticed sooner? This guy must’ve been really sneaky.
I wonder what made this particular guy a legend in crime. The plan was good, but execution and aftermath is what failed him.
If our economy wasn’t so focused on wealth symbolisms, maybe we wouldn’t have incidents like these. It’s sad what people are driven to.
I bet he has other crimes we don’t know about yet. No one starts with a $150,000 heist! This was probably a ‘practice’ gone big.
I feel for his wife if she was innocent, having to deal with such a situation. Putting families through this is even more criminal than the act itself.
There’s more to it than just being caught. Sometimes getting caught is part of a larger plan. Maybe there’s more than meets the eye here.
That’s a bold theory, but honestly, life’s rarely that complex. People tend to act for simple gains.
You never know though, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and I’d argue this story shows that.
I think he should have chosen a quieter crime career. Getting greedy too fast is what led to his downfall, I’m sure.