Bangkok heist committed by foreigners

EXPATS may have been responsible for the daring 12 million baht Bangkok heist carried out on Friday, according to police.

A Toyota sedan owned by a Phuket resident is believed to have been the getaway vehicle used by the robbers.

The heist occurred outside Krung Thai Bank headquarters in the Thai capital, with the car said to have been rented from a Phuket car hire company.

Media reports indicate that investigating police officers have identified two foreign suspects, and that officers will now travel to Phuket in order to talk with the car owner.

The suspects are believed by investigators to be professional thieves working as part of a gang.

Thaimart Store executive  Wirat Panyapluattichote was depositing company money at the bank when 12 million baht was taken from his car.

He had just picked up 25 million baht in bags from an currency exchange trader and then went to deposit it at the bank.

The cash was split into different bags containing five million, eight million, and 12 million baht.

Mr Wirat first carried the bag with the smallest amount into the bank, but upon returning he discovered that the window of his vehicle was smashed and the bag holding 12 million baht was stolen.

A two million baht reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of suspects and recovery of the cash.