An Austrian tourist was arrested for allegedly stealing and repainting a rental motorcycle in Thailand.

Helmut Ing Obritzberger, 56, reportedly walked into the Fanta Group Car & Motorbike for Rent shop on Koh Samui island and took off with a Honda motorcycle shortly before 6pm on March 2.

Later that morning, he allegedly had the two-wheeler repainted and replaced its license plate before fleeing to neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan island.

The Koh Samui Provincial Court in Surat Thani province on March 22 issued an arrest warrant for Helmut on charges of 'stealing from a residence at night and receiving stolen property'.

Tourist police nabbed the Austrian man, from Vienna, when he entered their office to renew his tourist visa on March 26. They made the arrest after learning he was a suspect in the ongoing case.

Police Colonel Denduang Thongsrisuk, Bophut District Police Station chief, said: 'From the interrogation, the suspect confirmed that the name in the arrest warrant and the image that appeared on the CCTV camera was himself.

'However, he refused to elaborate and sign the document. He demanded to have a lawyer.'

Officers added Helmut had a history of entering and leaving Koh Pha Ngan without having a place to stay, opting instead to sleep in a tent outdoors.

He was also notorious for allegedly renting motorcycles without paying.

Jurairat Chanroong, manager of the shop from which the motorbike was stolen, said she filed a report with the Bophut police upon learning that the 300,000-baht vehicle was missing.

She said: 'The suspect modified the motorcycle so we wouldn't recognise it. I'm grateful the police were able to track him down and arrest him.

'To other car owners, make sure to always keep your vehicle in a secure location. I've learned my lesson and will be installing better locks at the shop from now on.'

Helmut was detained at the Koh Samui Provincial Court pending prosecution.