The suspect, who is believed to have committed at least six armed robberies of 7-11 stores around Phuket in the past week, was apprehended after being shot and wounded when he tried to flee from undercover officers stationed at a 7-11 in Baan Tha Rua on Thepkasattri Road near Heroines' Monument.
The gunfight took place when the suspect tried to rob the store at 23:40pm.
The store happened to be one of several stores across Phuket where undercover police were disguised as store employees in an island-wide sting operation to catch the culprit.
The suspect reportedly fired five shots at the undercover officers as he fled the store.
Officers returned fire, shooting the suspect in the right hip, which left a trail of blood down a side street, leading to a white Nissan March parked about 20 metres from the store.
Police were then able to overpower the suspect, who has been named as Mr Piriya Tungbanjerd, 41.
Inside the car police found items related to the robberies, including a helmet, a knife, a 0.38mm pistol, five bullet casings and a small portable safe, as well as a Territorial Defence Volunteer jacket.
After his arrest Piriya was taken to Vachira hospital under police escort to treat his gunshot wound.
Phuket Police Commissioner, Maj Gen Pachara Boonsit, said undercover police officers were placed in several 7-11 stores around Phuket yesterday (Oct 8) in an attempt to catch the culprit suspected of a string of at least six robberies at 7-11 stores in Thalang, Phuket Town and Rawai; the latest (before the sting operation) being on Tuesday (Oct 7), in which the suspect escaped with B8,573 after forcing staff at gunpoint to empty the tills and a safe.
Commander Pachara said he was grateful to all the officers who put their lives at risk to catch the criminal.
A search of the Piriya's house in Soi Sansuk 1 in Phuket Town this afternoon revealed more evidence of the crimes, including several motorbike helmets and a large safe that the police are still trying to open.