A 26-year-old man has been arrested on charges of murdering a ride-hail driver and wearing the victim's uniform when robbing a Chiang Mai gold shop.
The man, identified by police only as Nipitpon, was arrested at his house in Doi Saket district on Monday night.
Police said the suspect used a ride-hailing app, asking to be picked up near Pha Lad waterfall early Monday morning.
He sat behind the 48-year-old driver during the trip and allegedly used a 9mm pistol to shoot him in the back of the neck, then drove the car to a ravine near Wat Pha Lad where he dumped the body.
About 11.30am a man wearing the murdered driver's uniform entered CentralFestival Chiang Mai shopping centre and robbed the Aurora gold shop of gold necklaces worth about 2.8 million baht
The thief fled in the victim’s car, which he left at Pha Lad waterfall. He then fled in his own car, which he had earlier parked at Kalae reservoir.
Police said the suspect tried to sell gold necklaces to other gold shops but they refused to buy them after seeing the Aurora logo stamped on them.
The suspect then drove to gold shops, in San Kam Phaeng and Doi Saket, where he sold two necklaces.
During the arrest, police found 17 gold necklaces at the suspect’s home along with a gun and clothing he allegedly used during the crime spree.
He confessed to the crimes, according to police.
