Bank robber makes his getaway with grenade

Pol Sgt Major Santhi Utukyotha suffered one bullet wound form the gunfight with a bank robber who entered the bank with a pistol and a hand grenade which he used to distract the police during the gunfight.

Santhi came upon the robbery as he was making his routine patrol to the Thai Bank's Nanom district in Songkhla province at about Friday midafternoon.

The bomb ripped through the door and brought down the glass window of other shop houses in the vicinity.

According to eyewitnesses, two men drove up in a Toyota pickup truck with Yala license plate just as the bank was about to close for the day. One man, wearing short and a cap, walked in with the weapons, Moments later, Santhi showed up.

The officer hollered out instruction, telling the robber to put down his weapon and lay on the ground. A gunfight broke out immediately, followed by the grenade attack that allowed him to flee the scene.

The three bank staff and the security guard were ordered by the robber to lock themselves in the bathroom as he make his escape.