Thai Man Steals Gold Ring Hoping for Prison Life Over Freedom
In a startling case from Udon Thani province, a 30-year-old man admitted he stole a gold ring not for money or greed, but in the hopes of being sent back to prison. The man, identified as Pakin, told police that he found life behind bars easier than the struggles he faced outside.
The incident occurred on September 11 at a gold shop inside a shopping mall in central Udon Thani. Shop staff said Pakin entered the store and asked to try on a gold ring worth 28,000 baht. After slipping it on, he posed an unusual question: “If I just walk out with this ring, will I be arrested?” Staff assured him that he certainly would be. Moments later, Pakin did exactly that.
Workers and mall security quickly detained him and recovered the ring before police arrived. Another shop owner nearby later reported that Pakin had entered his store earlier that day, asking the same odd question, though he had not attempted theft at that time.
During interrogation, Pakin confessed that his act was intentional. Having previously served a prison sentence for theft, he explained that he longed to return to jail, where daily life felt more manageable than the mounting difficulties outside.
Pakin, a married man with a young daughter, admitted to deep feelings of failure. He revealed bitter resentment over his mother’s decision to pass her inheritance to her grandchild instead of him, a choice she justified by telling him he had “never succeeded at anything.” He also admitted to daily methamphetamine use, taking one or two yaba pills each day, which fueled his despair.
At the police station, his wife arrived with their three-year-old daughter, urging him to think of his family. “Don’t you feel sorry for our child? Who will support us if you do this?” she asked tearfully. She also confessed that she had only just discovered his drug use, previously believing his behavior was caused by alcohol.
In the end, police chose mercy over punishment. Determining that Pakin had no violent intent and with the gold shop declining to press charges, officers charged him only with drug use. They arranged for his rehabilitation rather than sending him back to prison, hoping treatment might break the cycle of despair and prevent future crimes.
This case underscores a troubling reality: for some, the structure of prison life feels preferable to the hardships of freedom. It also highlights the compassion of local police, who opted for rehabilitation in place of harsher justice, giving Pakin a chance to rebuild his life outside bars.
