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

When Thai police were having trouble catching a serial burglar, they came up with a creative plan

Thai police came up with a creative plan to nab a serial burglar who repeatedly slipped through their fingers: going undercover in a traditional lion costume to get close to their elusive quarry.

Video footage released by the Bangkok police department showed officers hidden beneath a red-and-gold lion costume dancing toward the suspect on Wednesday as he wandered through a Lunar New Year fair at a temple in Nonthaburi, a province neighbouring Bangkok.

Moments later, the officer who was holding the lion’s papier mache head lunges at the suspect and swiftly pins the man to the ground.

Thai police, disguised as lion dance performers, catch a burglary suspect (The Metropolitan Police Bureau via AP)

Police say the suspect, identified as a 33-year-old man, is accused of breaking into the home of a local police commander in Bangkok three times earlier this month, making off with valuables worth about 2 million baht ($64,000).

In a press release, police said they had attempted to arrest the man several times, but he was quick to spot police officers and ran off.

Thai police go undercover as lion dance crew to catch wanted burglar (via REUTERS)

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

While the Lunar New Year is not an official holiday in Thailand, celebrations are common and lion dances are often part of the festivities, providing the perfect cover for the operation.

Police said the suspect has confessed to the burglaries, saying he stole to buy drugs and gamble. They added that he has previously been convicted of drug-related offences and burglary.