(Photo supplied)The 16-year-old arrested for a 2.4-million-baht gold-shop robbery in Hat Yai claimed an online gaming friend in Laos encouraged him to complete a “mission” to snatch the jewellery, according to police. The Songkhla native confessed that his Lao gamer friend urged him to complete a “gold‑snatching mission” and then send it to Laos, investigators said on Thursday. Police have recovered 30 baht‑weight of gold, with 3 baht‑weight still missing (one baht-weight is 15.2 grammes). Police have also been urging gold shop owners to improve their security and insurance coverage as robbery risk is rising with soaring prices. In the last 12 months, the local price for gold bars has risen 56%, with prices on Feb 5 quoted at 73,300 baht per baht-weight.

Source: Bangkok Post February 05, 2026 12:51 UTC