A 39-year-old man stole a school sign in Roi Et Province hoping to return to prison. He claimed that after release, he felt isolated, unable to adjust, unhappy, missed friends, and had no food.
On 15 November 2026, investigators from Muang Roi Et Police Station in Roi Et Province arrested Mr. Niwat, also known as Wat, aged 39, along with evidence of one metal pole from the Muang Thong Subdistrict Learning Center sign valued at approximately 1,000 baht.
The case began when teachers from Ban Muang Thong School, Muang Thong Subdistrict, Muang District, Roi Et Province, reported to police that the school name sign installed at the school entrance was missing. Upon receiving the report, investigators searched the area and found the stolen sign placed in front of the suspect's house. They then inspected and questioned him, confirming he was the perpetrator.
During questioning, Mr. Niwat admitted to committing the theft himself, using a hoe to remove the sign the previous night and placing it in front of his house.
What surprised officials was the suspect's motive. He claimed he had been imprisoned twice before, and after release, he felt unhappy, lived in isolation without friends, and sometimes lacked food.
He also said he missed his friends from prison, feeling that life there offered companionship, conversations, and meals. Therefore, he decided to steal the school sign hoping the police would arrest him and send him back to prison.
This case highlights another aspect of life after release, where the freedom many seek turns into loneliness that the individual cannot adapt to.
The suspect was detained with the evidence to be processed according to the law.