This is the bizarre moment a Thai couple hid in a tree after allegedly crashing a stolen car.

Gang leader Chanon Sithongdao, 27, and his girlfriend, Jutharat Simaneewan, 26, reportedly stole a monk's pickup truck before officers flagged them at a checkpoint in Buriram on Monday, July 21.

The pair sped away in the black Mazda and veered into a forest hoping to shake off the cops. However, they allegedly crashed the vehicle during the high-speed chase.

They fled the wreckage and climbed up a banyan tree, where they were caught leaning motionless against the branches in a futile attempt to blend in with the surroundings.

Footage shows the couple climbing down from a 15ft height after being surrounded by the cops. A third suspect, Weerawut Harnchana, 20, was earlier caught inside the overturned truck.

Police Major General Narongsak Phromtha, commander of Buriram Provincial Police, said Chanon had stolen the pickup from a Buddhist temple on July 18 evening.

He said: 'It was difficult to find the thieves. Their faces were not visible on CCTV footage because they were in the car as they fled. We disseminated a description of the car and its license plate to all police units and the general public.

'The truck was later found driving into a village on July 21. Police tried to stop it for an inspection, but the driver sped past them, sparking the chase that led into the forest.'

Suspected carjacker Chanon said he had initially planned to only raid the truck for valuables. However, he decided to steal it upon finding the car keys left inside.

He said: 'I stole the car and drove to Bangkok to escape. There was about 30,000 baht inside, and I spent it on clothes and fuel while I was on the run.'

Police caught him when he tried to go home to collect some clothes and visit his girlfriend. A drug test found him positive for methamphetamine.

Authorities said the man will be charged with theft at night and consuming a Category 1 narcotic. They added he had criminal history after previously stealing a motorcycle from Buriram Hospital.

The pickup truck has since been returned to monk Phra Ajarn Khamdee Thammatharo, who said he has forgiven Chanon.

The holy man said: 'Personally, I have forgiven the perpetrator. I will leave his punishment up to the legal process.'