Fancy-dress detectives

Thai police's novel way of catching criminals

- Rebecca Ratcliffe

Police officers from Bangkok's metropolitan bureau had less than 24 hours to prepare for their latest undercover operation, starring as performers of a lion dance at a temple fair held for the lunar new year.

Their mission: to track down and arrest a suspected thief who had a history of evading officers.

"The dance was spontaneous. We just did what we did," said Capt Lertvarit Lertvorapreecha, adding that nobody had time to practise. In his haste, he accidentally picked up his colleague's male mask, which he wore with a red silk dress, trousers and tactical shoes.

Their disguise seemed to work, however. Children rushed to join in and passersby laughed. Crucially, they were able to take their suspect by surprise, wrestling him to the ground. He is now in prison awaiting trial, accused of stealing Buddhist artefacts worth £47,717.