Trespasser caught by police hiding in home ceiling

A burglar was caught by police hiding in a resident's ceiling.

Arthit Puechpan, 33, reportedly broke into the empty home after being released from jail on drug-related charges in Ratchaburi province, Thailand, on the morning of September 23.

He climbed up into the ceiling to sleep but was discovered by neighbours when he went outside to grab an afternoon snack.

Police Lieutenant Chawalit Tabtimthong of the Photharam District Police Station said they received a report from the resident Warakorn, 48, that a suspicious man had trespassed into the property at around 5:30pm.

Footage shows officers poking open a ceiling panel to reveal Arthit's hiding spot. He initially tried to ignore police orders to surrender. He later emerged covered in sweat from spending hours in the sweltering nook.

Arthit was taken to the police station for questioning. A drug test also found that he had also consumed methamphetamine.

The Photharam police boss said: 'The suspect was charged with consuming drugs. He was taken to the station for questioning.'

Arthit said he was recently freed from prison and was waiting for his mother to wire him money to return to his home province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

He said: 'I was walking around because I had no place to stay. Then I spotted the empty house and decided to break inside. I had no intention of stealing anything. I only wanted a place to stay for the night.'

He added that he used a plastic bottle to unlock the spring latch doorknob. Warakorn said a neighbour had alerted him of the home invasion.

He said: 'The house belongs to my older sister and usually there is only a lone elderly occupant inside. I immediately reported to the police because thieves have previously broken inside to steal money.'

Methamphetamine is classified as a Category 1 drug in Thailand.

According to Thai law, carrying Category 1 drugs for 'disposal or possession for the purpose of disposal', has a maximum punishment of the death sentence or life in prison. The most severe punishments are reserved for those who 'produce of import' the substances, while simply possessing the drugs can land offenders in jail for up to 10 years.

Dealing the lesser Category 2 drugs, which include cocaine and ketamine, can carry a life sentence while possession alone has a punishment of five years.