Pattaya, Thailand – A kind-hearted man narrowly escaped legal trouble after offering temporary shelter to a homeless man who turned out to be a thief. The incident unfolded in Banglamung, Chonburi, when a stolen motorcycle was traced back to the house of the unsuspecting good Samaritan.
On May 14th, 2025, at 10:00 AM, Lt. Thongthawat Phonlakorn, Deputy Inspector of Bang Lamung Police Station, received a tip from the victim, Mr. Suthep Thadyenjai, 39, who spotted his stolen Honda Wave i motorcycle parked outside a house in Nong Prue, Banglamung. The white motorcycle, missing its license plate, had been stolen from a relative’s home on Sukhumvit Road on May 8th. Police from Banglamung and Nong Prue stations quickly coordinated to investigate.
Mr. Suthep explained to The Pattaya News how he discovered the stolen bike while driving his 12-year-old son to school. His son pointed out a familiar-looking motorcycle parked in front of the house. After dropping his son off, Mr. Suthep returned to inspect the bike and confirmed it was his, recognizing distinctive marks from over a decade of ownership. He immediately alerted relatives and the police.
At the scene, officers found the motorcycle under the watch of Mr. Suthep and other victims. The house, rented by Mr. Phairot Rotthaphao, 57, was used to store items and typically left unlocked. Mr. Phairot and his wife explained that a man, later identified as Mr. Nawee Sripairom, 36, had been staying there for just two days after asking for shelter. They claimed the motorcycle was brought by Nawee, unaware it was stolen.
With the house locked from the inside, police called a locksmith to gain entry. Inside, they found Nawee asleep on the second floor. He confessed to stealing the motorcycle, admitting he had recently been released from prison, was unemployed, and homeless. Seizing the opportunity, he stole the bike after finding its key left in the ignition.
Mr. Phairot revealed he had taken pity on Nawee, who approached him at his office, claiming he was homeless, jobless, and unable to find work after prison. Having seen Nawee occasionally pick up or drop off one of his former employees, Mr. Phairot assumed he was harmless and offered him temporary shelter without even knowing his name. Nawee even tried to pawn the stolen motorcycle to Mr. Phairot for 500 baht, but the offer was declined due to suspicions about the bike’s origins.
“I just wanted to help someone in need, but it almost landed me in jail,” Mr. Phairot said, expressing regret. “I had no idea he stole the bike.”
Police arrested Nawee Sripairom and handed him over to investigators for legal action.
