Brave gold shop owner foils armed robbery attempt in Thailand

This is the dramatic moment a brave gold shop owner foiled an armed robber in Thailand.

Pathompong Kaoian, 40, was tending to customers behind the counters when the alleged burglar, Worawit Chuduang, 28, barged in and pointed a gun at employees at the shop in Phatthalung province on July 14.

CCTV footage shows how the fearless Pathompong sprang into action, running behind the helmet-wearing Worawit who was bashing through the glass displays with an axe.

As terrified shoppers scattered from the store, Pathompong tackled the suspect and put him in a headlock.

He and his staff pinned him to the ground as police arrived at the scene.

Phatthalung police commander Police Major General Nathakorn Kanchanaporn said: 'Initially, the suspect claimed to be a former police officer. We found there was indeed a cop with the name he gave, but his face did not match the photo in our records. He later admitted his real identity.'

Worawit said he had been planning the robbery for 15 days, adding he was driven to do crime due to his gambling debts.

He said: 'I was short on funds because I need to make monthly payments of up to 30,000 baht. On the morning of the incident, I rode a black Honda motorcycle which I parked behind a nearby temple. I brought an axe and a fake gun to scare the people in the shop.'

Worawit also apologised to Pathompong, whom he knew from buying jewellery at the gold shop several times.

Police said Worawit will be charged with robbery.