Thai police officers disguised themselves in a dragon costume to arrest a suspect accused of stealing valuable Buddhist artefacts during Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok.
Officers hid inside the red costume while responding to reports of a burglary at a senior police officer’s home in the city’s suburbs.
The 33-year-old suspect is accused of stealing several items, including two 12-inch Buddha statues, with the total value of the stolen property estimated at 2m baht (£47,500).
Investigators said there were signs of forced entry at the property.
The suspect allegedly returned to the home at a later date but fled after being spotted.
Police later traced some of the stolen artefacts to a seller known as Jojo the Outlaw, who is believed to frequent temples in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi.
Officers previously attempted to arrest him at one such temple, but he became suspicious and escaped before they could detain him.
Authorities kept the senior officer’s home under surveillance for several weeks in the hope the suspect would return, but he did not.
Thai police officers disguised themselves in a dragon costume to arrest a suspect accused of stealing valuable Buddhist artefacts during Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok
Officers concealed themselves inside the red costume while responding to reports of a burglary at a senior police officer’s home in the city’s suburbs
Officers launched an undercover operation near a temple area, posing as members of a traditional lion dance troupe to bled in with the crowded festival setting
The 33-year-old suspect is accused of stealing several items, including two 12-inch Buddha statues, with the total value of the stolen property estimated at £47,500
Police were subsequently informed that the suspect planned to meet associates at temples in Sai Noi district on Wednesday.
Officers launched an undercover operation near a temple area, posing as members of a traditional lion dance troupe to blend in with the crowded festival setting.
Video footage shared online shows the officers moving with the performance as they monitored the crowd.
Once they identified the suspect, one officer emerged from the dragon costume and, with assistance from colleagues, tackled him to the ground before completing the arrest.
The footage of the operation has since circulated widely online, with many describing it as an inventive approach to apprehending a suspect.