The guard, Nattapong Rittidech, was even rewarded with B3,000 for his honesty.
Nattapong had been working as a security guard for U.B.N. Phuket Andaman Co for only one month before he was posted at Tesco Samkong on Monday (Nov 30).
“That evening I went to the toilet and there was one teenager and a middle-aged man in the men’s room,” he said.
“A middle-aged man was standing next to me. He placed a black pouch on the shelf above the urinal before doing his business then walking out without his pouch.
“I finished my business and ran after him, but he was already gone, so I handed it in at the information desk. I never opened it or checked what was inside.”
Two hours later, the owner of the pouch, Somkiet Jaturabandit, returned to the centre and asked about the hefty pouch he left in the men’s room.
“I checked and the cash, ID cards and other documents were all still inside,” Mr Somkiet said.
Mr Somkiet explained that he had just withdrawn the cash from the bank and used the men’s room before leaving the store.
“I am very happy that nothing is missing,” he said, and rewarded Mr Nattapong with B3,000 for his honesty.
Mr Nattapong said that he always kept his mother’s teaching close at heart.
“She told me to never take other people’s belongings and to always work hard and be honest. I commute 30km every day from Sakoo to come to work at here,” he said.
“I have a family and three young children to take care of. I don’t make a lot of money but I am happy with what I’ve got.
“I am thankful for the B3,000, and I will give B500 to my mother, deposit B1,500 in the bank for my children’s education and use the B1,000 to cover petrol expenses,” he said.