CCTV shows 4 had hand in cash heist

At least four suspects are believed to have stolen 196 million yen (60 million baht) from money couriers earlier this week, police said yesterday, adding that footage from security cameras is expected to provide clues leading to their arrest.

The couriers, hired by gem and gold dealer Pattarit Taerattanachai to deliver the money at his condominium on Ratchadaphisek Road, were attacked by a group of hooded men when they arrived there late on Monday night. The robbers made off with the cash, which was in Japanese banknotes.

Police investigators earlier believed there were six attackers but security camera footage showed just four people in a Ford pickup truck driving away from the condo shortly after the heist, according to a source.

The car was seen speeding away from Ratchadaphisek Soi 30 bound for the Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection before it disappeared, the source said.

Investigators are now checking footage from security cameras installed along Ratchadaphisek Road and nearby Lat Phrao Road.

There is a growing suspicion they used a flyover above Lat Phrao Road to get to the intersection, the source said.

Police do not think this case will be hard to solve, assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Chaiwat Ketwarachai told reporters yesterday as he led investigators to examine the crime scene. He urged restraint from the media while the hunt is ongoing.

Investigators are still operating under the assumption the robbery was an inside job because only people in Mr Pattarit’s inner circle knew about the cash delivery.

Pol Lt Gen Chaiwat declined to say whether any connection has been established between the thieves and people in Mr Pattarit’s employ, merely saying officers are narrowing their investigation.

Three people are known to have been involved in the cash delivery. According to the probe, two of the couriers, identified as Jirapat Pithakkijwattana and Kiattipong Puengyim, collected the money from another man, Narongchai Sawatdipol, at Suvarnabhumi airport.

He had brought the cash over from Japan in stored luggage and a duty-free plastic bag. After handing it to the couriers Mr Narongchai was picked up by his girlfriend.

Only Mr Jirapat and Mr Kiattipong drove their cars to the condo.

Authorities have found no irregularities with the cash, which was declared to officials by Mr Narongchai, the Customs Department said.

Further checks found he has been carrying large sums of cash into Thailand since last year and the declarations were correctly made.

Thai law requires cash over US$15,000 to be declared upon arrival and departure.