Thai police go undercover as Lunar New Year lion dancers to catch thief

Thai constabulary came up pinch a imaginative scheme to nab a serial burglar who many times slipped done their fingers: going undercover successful a accepted lion costume to get adjacent to their elusive quarry.

Video footage released by nan Bangkok constabulary section showed officers hidden beneath a red-and-gold lion costume dancing toward nan fishy connected Wednesday arsenic he wandered done a Lunar New Year adjacent astatine a temple successful Nonthaburi, a state neighbouring Bangkok.

Moments later, nan serviceman who was holding nan lion’s papier mache caput lunges astatine nan fishy and swiftly pins nan man to nan ground.

Police opportunity nan suspect, identified arsenic a 33-year-old man, is accused of breaking into nan location of a section constabulary commandant successful Bangkok 3 times earlier this month, making disconnected pinch valuables worthy astir 2 cardinal baht ($64,000).

In a property release, constabulary said they had attempted to apprehension nan man respective times, but he was speedy to spot constabulary officers and ran off.

They later identified him by tracing stolen amulets he had sold and learned that he often visited temples successful Nonthaburi.

While nan Lunar New Year is not an charismatic vacation successful Thailand, celebrations are communal and lion dances are often portion of nan festivities, providing nan cleanable screen for nan operation.

Police said nan fishy has confessed to nan burglaries, saying he stole to bargain narcotics and gamble. They added that he has antecedently been convicted of drug-related offences and burglary.