Summary of the controversy: A homeowner locked their door after a "mysterious car" parked on their property, sparking anger after being asked to pay 100 baht for parking.
The story has attracted significant attention online after a Facebook user posted a photo of a Mercedes-Benz parked on private property without permission. Upon investigation, it turned out the driver was a customer of a nearby restaurant in the alley. The homeowner said they had to lock their door because they needed to leave for an errand. After the post was shared, many people commented and expressed their opinions.
On 27 March 2026, reporters visited the scene inside Soi Sirimangkalajarn Soi 1. The homeowner’s residence is about 50 meters from the restaurant, located on the same side of the street.
Ms. Pimnapang, known as Khun Pim, the homeowner and original poster, said that normally she leaves the door open in the morning because part of the house has been converted into a grilled food shop and deliveries come throughout the day. But on the day of the incident, a Mercedes-Benz drove into the yard without explanation. When asked, no one in the house knew the driver.
Since she had to leave for work, she locked the door and contacted a nearby restaurant that had previous parking issues. Initially, the restaurant denied the car belonged to their customer, but later the car owner contacted her asking to open the door, claiming they were unaware it was private property and offered to pay 100 baht for parking.
This angered the homeowner further, leading her to post the story online. Later that afternoon, the homeowner’s mother came to open the door to let the car out to avoid a confrontation that might escalate the situation.
The homeowner also noted that disorganized parking issues have persisted since the restaurant opened about a year ago. The alley is narrow and contains homes, eateries, tutoring centers, and condominiums, resulting in insufficient parking. Additionally, odd-even day parking rules further reduce available spaces.
There are also problems with customers overflowing from the restaurant, standing in line and taking photos on the street, causing traffic obstruction. Sometimes cars park on both sides of the road during events like New Year’s, causing ongoing inconvenience to local residents. The homeowner has previously filed complaints and negotiated with the restaurant owner, who promised to manage parking with staff, but no effective solution has materialized and the problems persist.
The homeowner urged the business operators to seriously address parking and sidewalk management issues. Not only do customers’ cars block the street, but tables, chairs, and equipment are also set up on the road for waiting customers, creating hazards and traffic obstructions. If these problems cannot be resolved, relocating the business should be considered to avoid impacting others.
When asked, the restaurant stated the owner was not available for an interview. Further updates will be provided as they become available.