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Thai Police Dress as Lion to Catch Thief

Published February 20, 2026, 09:17
Thai Police Dress as Lion to Catch Thief

In Thailand, police employed an unusual method to arrest a man accused of stealing Buddhist artifacts worth approximately 54,000 euros. Officers dressed as a lion, taking advantage of the Lunar New Year celebrations, to approach the suspect undetected. During the operation, an officer emerged from the lion costume's head and, with the help of colleagues, subdued the suspect. The theft involved religious artifacts and two Buddha statues. The suspect has a prior criminal record related to drugs and theft. The operation was captured on video and went viral online, drawing attention due to its original approach.