Thai police don lion costume to arrest alleged artefact thief

Thai police donned a lion costume during this week’s lunar new year festivities to arrest a man accused of stealing about $64,000 worth of Buddhist artefacts. Officers made the arrest on Wednesday evening after responding to a report this month of a home burglary in the suburbs of Bangkok.

The break-in involved numerous Buddhist objects and two 12in Buddha statues, along with signs of repeated attempts to enter the property. With few leads, officers kept the house under surveillance for weeks before joining a lion dance procession at a nearby Buddhist temple.

Video released by the authorities shows brightly coloured lion dancers approaching the suspect before an officer suddenly emerges from the costume’s head and, with help from colleagues, wrestles him to the ground. Officers gradually moved closer to the suspect before arresting him.

Thailand, Bangkok

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