Toyota Yaris owner thanks thief for repainting it

According to the Bangkok Post, Pichet Prompakdee, 25, from Chaiyaphum, was arrested at a Korean restaurant on Kalapruek Road in Muang district of Khon Kaen. He had worked there as a waiter.

Police seized the car as well as a mobile phone, a Buddha amulet and a Khon Kaen license plate.

According to Khon Kaen police chief, Colonel Supakorn Khamsingnok, Prayoon had reported this car stolen last month while he went out drinking with his friends in the city.

At the time, Prayoon said he was too drunk to drive and decided to sleep in his car instead while parked at the side of the road.

When he awoke the next morning, Prayoon found himself at a public park with a young man in the driver’s seat of his car. The man then left him at the side of the road and took off with his car.

Supakorn said, the police obtained a CCTV recording of the area around the public park during the time of the incident and was able to track down the stolen car at a nearby restaurant where Pichet had worked.

Initially Pichet insisted that the car had belonged to him but failed to produce documents to show ownership. He finally confessed to stealing the car.

The suspect then told police that Prayoon’s car had blocked his way while riding his motorcycle back to the hostel he was staying in.

He looked inside the vehicle to find the owner in the back seat, drunk and snoring loudly while the engine was running and the doors unlocked.

Pichet said, he had tried to wake Prayoon but failed before driving the car to a public park.

Prayoon finally opened his eyes and Pichet offered to drive him home. As Prayoon was still too drunk and dazed, Pichet decided to leave him and drive the car back to his hostel.

Pichet then repainted the car, decorated it with stickers and changed the license plate to that of his old car which had been repossessed by the bank after he failed to pay the monthly instalments.

The suspect is not is police custody for legal action.