Sleepy Thief’s Misadventure: Udon Thani Homeowners Catch Burglar Napping

In an unexpected twist of fate, a sleepy intruder met his match when he decided to doze off mid-burglary in Udon Thani, only to be discovered by the homeowners. When Kiattisak’s sons, Por and Per, ventured to their old abode for a simple errand—retrieving a bicycle—they stumbled upon more than they bargained for. Their old residence, nestled just 500 meters from their current home, was hosting an unscheduled guest in the form of a tuckered-out thief.

Picture this: the 16-year-old and his brother, aged 15, venturing into the eerily quiet storage room on the third floor, only to find an unfamiliar figure cozily nestled on a makeshift bed. The brazen bandit had donned the cloak of courage—or perhaps foolishness—as he brazenly laid a blanket on the floor, a fan gently whirring beside him. Yet, it was neither comfort nor dreams of grandeur that awaited him; instead, it was a rude awakening when the dynamic duo decided to summon backup in the form of their father, Kiattisak, and subsequently, the local law enforcers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station.

With youthful fervor, Por and Per imagined locking the sleepy scoundrel in to await the cavalry. Unfortunately, the would-be captor found himself overpowered by the burglar who managed to force the door open, making a hasty (yet precariously groggy) getaway. Sometimes, reality writes itself like a captivating thriller more closely resembling a comedic sketch; the intruder likely hadn’t imagined his crime career resulting in a madcap dash, T-shirt and knife abandoned, all for a bit of shut-eye.

Investigations revealed that the deft burglar had gained access through the kitchen, maneuvering the exhaust fan from its perch and using a wooden stick to unbolt the window—no doubt a tactic honed with quiet precision. Yet, his grand designs extended beyond a casual nap; he had, it seemed, intermittently utilized the home as an impromptu safehouse for his pilfering pursuits. Among the vanished valuables were significant religious artifacts—35 Buddhist amulets and a Buddhist statue—alongside contemporary loot like a television and, ironically, the bicycle Por and Per initially set out to retrieve.

Though the imaginative escapade might arise giggles now, the family remains vigilant, with the gravitational weight of these stolen items tugging at their peace of mind. To date, the authorities have shared scant information regarding the mysterious identity of this house-snoozing ne’er-do-well.

This peculiar incident of couch-surfing criminality is not without precedent in Thailand’s intriguing tapestry of bizarre burglaries. In February, an equally confounding caper unfurled in Chon Buri. A misguided mistress of the house unwittingly opened her doors to a sleepy scamp, mistaking his knock for her spouse’s. Though his unsavory demands left her in a pickle, her quick-witted proposal for a bathroom break led to the thief’s eventual capture when fatigue claimed him. It’s a testament to the truth that even villains may need their forty winks—but law and order need only seize the opportunity.

As this narrative unfolds, it serves as a gentle reminder of the unpredictability life has to offer. Amidst this peculiar anecdote from Udon Thani, we rediscover a blend of humor, suspense, and a human capacity for quick thinking, leaving a captivated audience in its wake, eager to see how this charming crime story will unfold.