Two thieves made off with a 10-carat diamond which an Indian gem broker wanted to sell after luring him to a shop they had rented in Bangkok's Bang Rak district as part of an elaborate hoax.
The robbery occurred on the first floor of a four-storey commercial building on Si Phraya Road about 3pm on Tuesday.
Pol Lt Chanachart Charoenphol, deputy investigation chief for Bang Rak, said yesterday a man aged 45-50 years had agreed about a week ago to rent the first floor of the building for 10,000 baht a month, saying he planned to open a shop to make, sell and buy jewellery.
The man, whose name was not known, had told the owner he wanted to move in his equipment and decorate the shop before signing the actual rental contract, Pol Col Duangchot Suwancharas, chief of Bang Rak station, said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jain Vaivphav, a 44-year-old Indian jewel broker, and a Thai friend arrived at the shop with a 10-carat diamond they wanted to sell. They were met by a man who said he was the proprietor.
After seating them in the shop, the man said he wanted to examine the precious stone in natural light. He walked outside the shop, going through the motions of examining the diamond, and leaving the two men inside.
He then used a remote control device to close the glass door behind him, locking the two men inside, and fled on a waiting motorcycle.
Mr Vaivphav used his fist to break the glass door and gave chase, but was quickly left behind, while his friend called police.
Mr Vaivphav was taken to a hospital with severe lacerations that required 20 stitches, Pol Col Duangchot said.
Mr Vaivphav had earlier advertised the 10-carat diamond for sale for 10-million baht on a website.
Police said the thief used the shop as a front to lure his victim into bringing it to him. Police were hunting for the thief and his motorcyclist accomplice.
