You can't hide from the invisible': why Bangkok police make arrests in disguise

"The fastest way of arresting someone is to surprise them, when they're enjoying life, not knowing what's going on around them. You cannot hide from the invisible, or from what you cannot see. The inspiration for disguises comes from fieldwork and criminal profiling. In the lion dance case, officers were aware the suspect had fled to a new area, and that lunar new year festivities, when the streets would be busy with celebrations, would provide a good opportunity for them to blend into crowds."

"The target was a professional thief with a long history of robberies. He is very aware of his surroundings. If he's suspicious of something, he'll just flee. Officers from Lertvarit's team have often donned unusual disguises to surprise suspects, dressing as foliage, construction workers and even a Lycra-clad wrestler, with footage going viral online and making headlines both in Thailand and abroad."

Bangkok metropolitan police officers conducted an undercover operation at a lunar new year temple fair, disguising themselves as lion dancers to apprehend a suspected thief. With less than 24 hours to prepare and no time to practice, Captain Lertvarit Lertvorapreecha and his team wore traditional lion dance costumes, including masks, silk dresses, and tactical shoes. The suspect, a professional thief with a history of evading police, was caught off guard during the crowded festivities and arrested. The operation succeeded because the disguise allowed officers to blend into celebrations while maintaining tactical advantage. This arrest exemplifies the police team's strategy of using creative disguises to surprise suspects during moments when they are distracted and unaware.

Read at www.theguardian.com