15-Year-Old Steals Uncle's Truck, Joyrides With Friends
A 15-year-old in Samut Prakan was caught joyriding his uncle's stolen pickup truck after security footage showed him taking it for a joyride with friends. The repeat offender, who had stolen a motorcycle days earlier, was handed to police f
On July 10, residents of a village in Praek Sa Mai subdistrict, Mueang district, Samut Prakan province reported a missing pickup truck. Security camera footage showed the vehicle leaving around noon and returning at 1:34 p.m. The truck owner, security staff, and residents blocked its path and stopped it. When the driver stepped out, everyone was shocked to discover he was the owner's 15-year-old grandson. Angered by the discovery, the uncle kicked and struck the teen multiple times to discipline him.
The truck owner, 48-year-old Mana, explained that he found his bedroom window forced open and the vehicle missing. After checking security footage, he learned it had left at midday. When it returned, he and others stopped it. The teenager confessed to taking the truck to show off to friends. This was not his first offense—three days earlier, on July 7, he had stolen a motorcycle from the village guardhouse by kicking the lock, later returning it damaged while claiming he only borrowed it to give a friend a ride.
The village committee vice-chairman noted the teen's pattern of repeat offenses. After the incident, the boy's parents met with the truck owner and village officials. The motorcycle owner declined to settle and insisted on pressing charges. Police from Bang Pu station took the teenager into custody for legal processing. Though the motorcycle owner filed a complaint with investigators, the truck owner had not yet formally filed charges. Given the suspect's age, authorities will proceed under the Juvenile and Family Court Act.