A Dutch national living in Thailand has been arrested for stealing a cashpoint machine and trying to tow it away with a truck.

According to the Bangkok Post, the man, named only as “Sijtse”, used his pickup truck and chains to drag the machine from its moorings at the Siam Commercial Bank in the northeastern city of Khon Kaen.

The man, who has lived in Thailand for six years, told police he had had a fight with his wife over finances shortly before he left, ostensibly to visit a friend.

In reality, he planned to make off with the ATM, but the attempt on Sunday morning failed and he was found hiding behind some roadside bushes some 20 metres from the bank.

Thai police are investigating.