Washington: Using a clever sting operation, disguised as a lion dance troupe at a temple festival, apprehended "Jojo," a burglar who had been on a spree, most recently breaking into the home of a high-ranking police superintendent three times in a row. He even smiled defiantly at the security cameras. He was finally caught and confessed to needing the money to buy drugs.
According to Thai News Agency, police launched a manhunt for "Jojo," a notorious burglar. The suspect, identified as Adisak, or "Jojo," 33, an unregistered individual, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court for charges of "theft in a dwelling and trespassing." He was apprehended at Wat Khlong Ta Khlai, Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi Province, at 7:15 PM.
This case stems from an incident on February 4th, when burglars broke into the home of a high-ranking police superintendent in the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau in the Pracha Chuen area, stealing amulets and other valuables worth over 2 million baht. They subsequently returned to commit the same crime a total of three times in three days. On the final occasion, the victim planned a stakeout, but the burglars sped away, even smiling defiantly at the security camera.
Following the incident, police traced the suspect using CCTV footage and the route he took to sell the amulets. Known by the alias "Jojo," he frequently visited temples in the Bang Bua Thong area. However, the suspect was highly cautious and managed to evade capture three times. Finally, on February 18th, investigators learned that the suspect was planning to meet friends to use drugs at a temple in the Sai Noi area. They then disguised themselves as a lion dance troupe at a temple festival, cautiously approaching and successfully apprehending him, much to his surprise.
A background check revealed a total of nine criminal cases, including drug-related offenses and theft. Adisak confessed to all charges, stating that he ran away from home at the age of 11 because he was addicted to glue sniffing and resented his mother for remarrying. He grew up in darkness, didn't receive an education, and was unable to apply for jobs because he lacked an identity card. He admitted to breaking into the victim's house three times. During the third incident, he didn't steal anything because the occupants noticed him beforehand. He sold all the stolen property cheaply. He committed the crimes while under the influence of methamphetamine after consuming three pills. He explained that he tended to run away because he was paranoid due to his history of drug use. He committed the crimes to buy more drugs and gamble.
The part about smiling at the CCTV camera wasn't mockery, but because he was tired from running. He had arranged to meet friends at the temple festival today to use drugs behind the temple, unaware that the police would find them. He was truly shocked that the police were disguised as a lion dance troupe. After being released from prison, he wants to ask for leniency from the police to help him get a national ID card so he has his civil registration information, as he wants to apply for jobs. He also promises that if he does it again after this release, he will let the police punish him again.