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Thai authorities employed a creative ruse during the Lunar New Year celebrations to apprehend a man suspected of stealing high-value Buddhist artefacts
In a recent operation, police officers donned a traditional red-and-yellow lion dance costume to approach the 33-year-old suspect without raising alarm, according to the AP.
The arrest took place on Wednesday evening, 18 February, in the suburbs of Bangkok, following a week-long investigation into a residential burglary reported earlier this month.
The case stemmed from a break-in in which items worth about 2,000,000 baht (RM280,000) were allegedly stolen
According to a statement from the capital's police department, the stolen loot included two 12-inch Buddha statues and several other significant religious objects.
The thief had reportedly made repeated, brazen attempts to enter the property to steal the artefacts.
Progress on the case initially stalled due to a lack of concrete leads; however, surveillance efforts eventually placed the suspect near a local Buddhist temple, as reported by The Guardian.
Recognising the opportunity provided by the ongoing festive atmosphere, the police decided to integrate themselves into a lion dance procession
This tactical decision allowed the undercover team to navigate through the crowds and close the distance to their target — a man who also had prior criminal records involving drug offences and theft — without triggering a flight response.
Footage released by the police department depicts the festive lion weaving through the temple grounds before suddenly halting. An officer emerged from the head of the costume to intercept the suspect, while colleagues acting as the "body" of the lion pinned him to the ground.
It is said the unconventional method also ensured the safety of bystanders during the high-traffic holiday period.
The suspect remains in custody as authorities work to recover the remaining stolen statues and verify if other accomplices were involved in the heist.
