Thai police arrest man in ‘dancing lion’ sting

Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Police in Thailand used a creative approach to catch a suspected serial burglar who had eluded arrest several times. Officers dressed in traditional lion-dance costumes during Lunar New Year celebrations to get close to and arrest the suspect, the Associated Press reported.

A video from Bangkok police shows two officers hidden inside a red-and-gold lion costume blending in with the crowd at a temple fair in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok. As the event progressed, the officers in disguise moved closer to the 33-year-old suspect. When the time was right, the officer at the front of the costume lunged forward and tackled the man, while other officers helped make the arrest.

Police say the suspect broke into a senior police official’s home in Bangkok three times earlier this month. They estimate that about 2 million baht, or $64,000, worth of valuables were stolen.

Investigators said earlier attempts to arrest the man failed because he recognized the officers and escaped before they could reach him. The case moved forward when police traced religious amulets they believed he had stolen and sold. Their investigation showed that the suspect often visited temples in Nonthaburi, so officers decided to conduct the undercover operation during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Lunar New Year is not an official holiday in Thailand, but it is widely celebrated, with lion dances being common at temples and community events.