A Thai thief broke into a house but promptly fell asleep inside before stealing anything and was eventually discovered by a housemaid on Friday morning, police said.

Prachak Jarkngooloem, 24, was found at a house in the coastal resort of Pattaya, 150 kilometres south of Bangkok, where he admitted planning to steal goods from the property.

"He told police that he entered the house on Thursday evening hoping to steal something but he was tired and sleepy because he argued with his girlfriend the previous night and went for a drink with friends, so he slept," Lieutenant Colonel Ruengwit Rakchart of Pattaya police said.

"He did not get anything because the maid found him and informed the police," Ruengwit added.

He said police were forced to break into the home when Prachak locked himself in after realising he had been caught by the maid and trying to buy time to escape.

Ruengwit said the burglar would be charged with trespassing at night and attempting to steal goods, offences which carry a prison term of five years.