Thai Police Go Undercover in Lion Dance Costume to Arrest Thief Who Stole ~RM249k in Artefacts

The undercover operation unfolded on Wednesday evening (18 February) after officers spent weeks investigating a burglary reported earlier this month at a home on the outskirts of Bangkok.

The homeowner had alerted authorities that several Buddhist items, including two 12‑inch Buddha statues, had vanished, and the house showed signs of multiple break‑in attempts.

With little progress and few leads, investigators turned to a creative tactic: joining a lion dance troupe performing at a nearby Buddhist temple. Dressed in a bright red-and-yellow lion costume, officers slowly closed in on the suspect as drums and cymbals masked their approach.

Police said the officers “moved in gradually” before making the arrest. A video released by authorities shows the lion dance performers inching toward the suspect, before an officer suddenly pops out from the lion’s head and, with backup officers, tackles him to the ground.

Police estimate the stolen artefacts were worth around two million baht (~RM249,000). The suspect, a 33-year-old man with prior drug and theft convictions, was taken into custody.

Watch the video of the incident below: