Police, who disguised themselves as a traditional lion dancer troupe, have successfully arrested a burglary suspect at a temple fair.
On February 18, 2026, following a tip-off that the suspect would be at a temple in Nonthaburi province, Thai police rushed to the scene.
However, instead of blending into the crowd of festival goers or posing as local street vendors, local law enforcement came up with a cunning plan that feels like it came straight out of a Hollywood movie.
Lion dancing police capture suspect
Videos shared online show authorities concealing themselves as a lion dance troupe, a traditional Chinese performance commonly seen at temple festivals and celebrations in Thailand.
Footage shows how the police moved swayed rhythmically to the beat of the drums, all the while they carefully scanned for their target amongst the crowd.
Once they located the suspect, the police pounced on their unsuspecting prey in what looked like a scene ripped from a David Attenborough wildlife documentary. They then demanded that the suspect lie down, while the armed officers ditched the lion costume and began their arrest.
According to the Thai Post, the case began on February 4, 2026, when a senior officer attached to Thailand’s Metropolitan Police Bureau reported multiple valuables missing from his home. Investigators found signs of forced entry, and authorities said the suspect later returned to the property before fleeing when spotted.
Police then traced some of the stolen amulets to a suspect known as “Jojo the Outlaw,” who was believed to frequent temples in the area. Officers previously attempted to arrest him at one temple, but he became suspicious and escaped.
Investigators later received information that the suspect planned to meet associates at temples in Sai Noi district on February 18. It’s here that officers decided to go undercover at the temple fair, posing as members of a traditional lion dance troupe to avoid detection in the crowded setting.
Footage of the unusual sting operation has since gone viral, with the Thai police operation going down as one of the most comical arrests ever caught on camera.
