KHON KAEN - Siraphat Sukung picked the wrong time to return what he stole to the owner.
The 30-year-old pilfered a haversack containing 4,000 baht in cash, a notebook computer and a car registration book from inside a pickup truck in the parking lot at the Nucharee Place condominium in Muang district on Wednesday night.
Hours later, he felt remorse and decided to take all items back to the vehicle and return them to the owner.
But that was the very time that police called to investigate the theft were looking at the security camera footage at the condominium and questioning the truck's owner Manop Prathumkul.
Mr Siriphat did not realise there were plainclothes police near the vehicle when he tried to put the bag back inside. It was a very easy and rapid arrest for the officers.
Mr Siriphat told his story at a police media briefing on Thursday.
He explained that he really had no intention of ever being a thief.
"I have been unemployed for more than two months because of the sluggish economy. I used up all my money and decided to do this only to have enough money for food while I was looking for a new job," said the former insurance salesman said.
Mr Siriphat said he was looking for a target at the condominium on Wednesday night. He found the pickup parked with a rear window left ajar and decided to break into the vehicle.
Later, he felt very guilty and decided to return the bag.
Pol Col Noppadol Phetsut, the superintendent of Muang district police station, said Mr Siriphat had no prior criminal record, but had now been charged with theft. He would be held in custody pending legal proceedings.