A drug-addled Buddhist monk has been arrested after allegedly carjacking two vehicles and leading police on a frantic chase in northern Thailand.

The out-of-control monk named Phra Annipalo, 34, was detained for allegedly stealing a pickup truck and a second-hand car in Tak province on November 16.

The carnage began at the Bor Luke Rang temple in Mae Sot district, where Phra Annipalo is said to have climbed into a devotee's pickup truck with its key bizarrely left in the ignition.

The truck owner, Somchai, had gone to the temple to pray but did not expect a holy man to allegedly make off with his ride.

He said: 'He stole my gold Nissan Navara. I left it in the parking lot with the keys in. I was shocked so I chased after him with another monk in a car for about 20 kilometres, but the monk was going too fast like a race car.'

After shaking off his pursuers, Phra Annipalo then stopped at a second-hand car showroom before allegedly stealing another car - a purple Hyundai sedan that was unattended with its engine still running.

In an attempt to stop the theft, the Hyundai's owner named Chart sped after Phra Annipalo in the Nissan Navarra he had left behind.

The crafty monk took advantage of the rush hour, weaving through traffic and driving through a school and a community area while trying to hide from the police.

The officers eventually cornered him when he began to panic upon hearing the loud sirens blaring throughout the town. He was arrested after hitting another car at a junction, with Chart arriving minutes later to unlock the car doors and allow the officers to force their way inside the sedan.

Phra Annipalo was taken to the Mae Sot police station and underwent a drug test which later returned positive, local media reported.

Cops also found that he had been carrying a knife, cash, and ironically, his Buddhism ordination documents in a bag.

Colonel Monsak Kaew-on, superintendent of the Mae Sot police station, said: 'From the investigation, we found that Phra Annipalo appeared to have a condition but is able to communicate. He has accepted the consequences of his actions and has confessed.

'What happened terrified the people of Mae Sot as it had been a long time since such an incident occurred in the district.

'The police were able to take action to control the situation quickly. This is the result of regular tactical exercises under the command of the Mae Sot Police Station Superintendent.'

Phra Annipalo may be facing up to three years of imprisonment and up to 6,000 THB (166 USD) in fines for stealing another's property under Thai criminal law.

He is also expected to be charged under the country's Narcotics Act.