Motorcycle rider caught on CCTV stealing pet cat from outside bank

A motorcycle rider was caught on camera stealing a pet cat in Thailand.

Nattaphon, 32, was parked in front of the branch of Krungthai Bank when he spotted the white moggie roaming around near Sakdidet Road in Phuket on July 15.

CCTV footage shows the man scooping up the white collared feline, Konmek, cradling it in his arms before unceremoniously stuffing it under the leather seat of his two-wheeler and driving away.

Fearing the kit-napper would butcher and eat her beloved pet cat for dinner, the owner Momintty Kikiz shared the footage online and filed a report with the Wichit Police Station.

Police Colonel Chatri Chukaew, superintendent of the Wichit Police Station, said Nattaphon was arrested on July 16, following a police investigation.

He was caught while in the middle of allegedly stealing backhoe equipment in Phuket.

Nattaphon reportedly admitted to stealing the cat, claiming he was a cat lover himself.

He said: 'I saw that the cat had beautiful eyes. I wanted it for myself so I took it home, but it ran away from me when we arrived.'

He claimed he thought the feline had no owner, despite it wearing a collar.

Police Colonel Chatri said Nattaphon had a criminal history, including several cases of theft still under investigation.

He said: 'We have informed him of the theft charge and handed him over to the inquiry officer of Wichit Police Station for further legal action.'

Meanwhile, the search for the missing Konmek was ongoing.