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Although police shot at the vehicle's tyre, preventing the thieves from driving further along Rom Klao Road, the assailants managed to hail a taxi and get away with Bt27,000 in cash from the victim.

Orapin Sermprapasil, 50, a furniture exporter, sustained bruises on her face. She told police she was driving on Suwinthawong Road to her SPS Intertech Co in Muang Chachoengsao when the four thieves rammed their pick-up-truck into the rear of her car, prompting her to pull over to negotiate about the damages. Two of the thieves got out to talk with her but then started punching her in the face, so she pretended to pass out. She said three of the thieves then drove away in her Benz while the other followed in the pick-up truck towards the outbound lane of Suwinthawong Road.

To avoid police checkpoints, the thieves made a U-turn onto Rom Klao Road, where they attempted to break through another checkpoint near a motorway exit. A Lat Krabang police officer shot at the Benz 3-4 times causing the front left tyre to burst, but the thieves drove for another 12 kilometres along the motorway before abandoning the car and taking a taxi heading to Chachoengsao.

Police collected fingerprints from the Benz and found the victim's purse inside, minus the Bt27,000.

Orapin's brother, Weerasak Sermprapasil, said his sister told him that she called for help but the area was noisy from the traffic and no one heard her so she pretended to pass out until the thieves escaped and she could alert the police.

Weerasak suspected the attack was planned ahead, as the thieves seemed to know that his sister frequently used the route. He said his sister had no conflicts with anyone.

The Nation