Man in Scream Mask Caught Hiding in Shopping Centre to Steal from Shop

A 21-year-old man in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was caught after spending the night hidden inside a shopping centre dressed in a mask resembling the iconic one from the 1996 horror film Scream.

The would-be thief was reportedly attempting to rob a gold shop but became trapped and had no choice but to stay hidden behind cardboard boxes until morning.

Security camera footage captured the suspect roaming the mall after hours, completely covered in black clothing and wearing the ghostly white mask popularised by the horror franchise.

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Police believe he entered the building at around 5pm on Monday, March 17, with the intention of hiding out until the centre closed.

Once the mall was shut for the night, he allegedly forced his way into a gold shop by picking the lock on the metal security gate, closing it again behind him to avoid detection.

However, his plan took a turn when he realised the gate couldn’t be lifted from the inside due to a blockage.

In a panic, the man reportedly searched for another way out but ultimately gave up and crouched behind a stack of cardboard boxes to avoid being seen.

He remained there overnight, with no way to escape.

His presence was discovered the next morning, at around 9am on Tuesday, March 18, when employees returned to work and noticed something suspicious around the entrance of the gold shop.

Upon entering, they spotted the man hiding behind the counter. Reacting quickly, they locked him in and contacted police.

Upon his arrest, the suspect is said to have told officers that he’d been scoping out the location for three days in preparation for the heist.

He also reportedly confessed that he was desperate for money to fund his university education and pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Authorities have since charged him with attempted theft and damaging property, and say he appeared remorseful during questioning.

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SOURCE: Scream mask-wearing man arrested after hiding out in shopping centre to ‘steal’ from shop | Need To Know