Police arrested a woman for stealing a brand-new SUV from a Bangkok mall after its owner left the vehicle idling with the air conditioning on to keep her pet cat cool while she went to buy coffee.
The 39-year-old suspect was apprehended in the stolen black Honda HR-V following a nine-hour search. The theft took place at The Street Ratchada shopping center on Ratchadaphisek Road in Din Daeng district at around 2:00 PM.
Pol Col Prasopchoke Iampinit, chief of Huai Khwang police station, stated that the suspect struggled to answer police questions. Her mother later informed authorities that the woman suffers from a mental illness and is receiving treatment in Khon Kaen province.
According to Pol Col Prasopchoke, the SUV’s owner had left the engine running with the doors unlocked while entering the mall, though she took the remote key with her.
Witnesses saw the theft unfold and attempted to prevent the vehicle from escaping. In the process, a security guard and a police officer sustained minor injuries after being struck, while another motorist who tried to block the SUV was also hit.
During the arrest, police found the owner’s pet cat hiding under a car seat.
