Aussie tourist arrested for bank robbery

An Australian tourist held up a commercial bank at Saphan Kwai with a toy gun and made off with 170,000 baht in cash this morning.

But he was chased and arrested a few minutes later.

The tourist was identified by police as Zachary A Colnin, 23.

Pol Lt Sanit Mahatavorn, acting commissioner of Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the masked young tourist entered the Thanachart bank at Morchit branch in Saphan Kwai wearing a sunglass shortly after it opened with a handgun and shouted “money.”

He said no more words after a frightened employee handed over cash in the drawer when the lone robber pointed the gun at her.

He then ran out immediately towards Phaholyothin Soi 15.

But passersby and Bang Sue police who happened to be around there saw the daring robbery and gave chase, the acting commissioner said.

He was seized a few minutes later with the money in his bag.

Upon arrest and questioning at Bang Sue police station, the tourist said he decided to bank robbery after he spent up all his money while staying for over a month.

He said he chose the Thanachart bank because it was not busy during the morning hours and had few clients.

Before the robbery, he made observation of the bank two days ago and decided to hold up today with a BB gun.

He said he wanted the money to buy an air ticket for home in Australia.

He took BTS train from Na Na to Saphan Kwai to conduct the bank robbery, Bang Sue police said.

Bang Sue police escorted him to Thanachart bank Morchit branch late today for re-enactment of his bank robbery.

Thai PBS

 

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