'Arm Heart Gesture Toward CCTV' Thieves Return Stolen Items

Teenage thieves making a heart sign with their hands while watching CCTV footage after returning the stolen shoes. Photo by Khaosod TV (YouTube video capture)

[Asia Economy Reporter Nana] Carefree teenage thieves from Thailand, wearing helmets, made arm hearts and even waved their hands toward the closed-circuit television (CCTV) before being caught by the police.

According to online media Nation on the 24th, four teenage boys stole shoes left outside the door of a corridor-style apartment in Bang Phli area, Samut Prakan Province, on the 10th and ran away.

However, they were unaware that their theft was recorded on the corridor CCTV. The CCTV footage shows only one wearing a helmet, while the other three had their faces clearly captured.

The homeowner reported the theft to the police and posted the CCTV footage showing the theft on a messenger app used by the apartment residents to ask for help. The video later spread online.

Fearing arrest, the boys returned the stolen shoes to their original place in front of the apartment corridor door at dawn five days later.

At that time, all four were wearing helmets.

Covering their faces completely, they made heart shapes with both arms toward the CCTV and showed a relaxed attitude by even waving their hands as they left the scene.

The video also went viral online, becoming a hot topic.

Residents who saw this told the police that theft incidents had frequently occurred early in the morning before.

The police, suspecting that the 'helmet thieves' were neighbors familiar with the area, identified their identities after an inquiry investigation.

Nation reported that the boys’ parents took them to the police station to surrender.

The police stated that the 15 to 17-year-olds would be charged with nighttime theft.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.