CHAIYAPHUM: Two debt collectors accused of damaging a loan defaulter's house and stealing her pet rabbit were arrested on Monday night. 

The men, Sitthikorn Kerdsiri, 24, and Charoensak Piawwong, 22, were detained in Muang district on charges of causing damage to property and theft, Pol Col Arthit Chatchairatanawet, chief of Kaeng Khro police station, said on Tuesday.

They are accused of breaking glass windows at the house of Kiatsuda Chasamrong, 47, in tambon Sam Mor of Kaeng Khro district in late August.

Ms Kiatsuda told police she had borrowed 4,000 baht from a loan shark and re-lent the money to a friend. She defaulted because her friend did not repay the loan.

The two suspects allegedly admitted they smashed windows and stole her pet rabbit when they could not collect the instalments due in August.

They said the woman stopped paying the 200-baht daily instalments when the outstanding balance reached about 3,000 baht, Pol Col Arthit said.

Police had earlier organised a settlement meeting of the two sides and the woman had demanded 25,000 baht in damages. The men had subsequently disappeared and were only recently found hiding in Muang district, he said.

The case was proceeding.