A man was arrested at Bangkok’s Wat Pho temple after allegedly stealing brass candlesticks from a chapel and later telling police that a smiling Buddha statue had given him permission to take them.
The incident occurred on June 28 when officers from Phra Nakhon Police Station, who had been deployed at the temple to deter theft and pickpocketing, noticed the suspect behaving suspiciously as he left the chapel carrying a black plastic bag.
Police searched the bag and allegedly discovered the stolen brass candlesticks, leading to the man’s immediate arrest.
During questioning, the suspect admitted taking the items. He claimed that while praying inside the chapel, he looked up and believed the Buddha image was smiling at him, which he interpreted as permission to remove the candlesticks.
He also told investigators that he intended to donate the items to a temple in Uthai Thani.
However, police said the suspect had no fixed address and showed no signs of mental illness. Investigators believe the candlesticks were actually intended to be sold for profit.
Temple officials confirmed that every item within Wat Pho belongs to the temple and stressed that no permission had been granted for anyone to remove the brass candlesticks or any other property.
The man has been charged with theft from a public place of worship and was taken to Phra Nakhon Police Station for further legal action.
The arrest comes amid heightened concerns over thefts at places of worship. In a separate case on the same day, an 18-year-old man was arrested outside another Bangkok temple after allegedly stealing 5,800 baht from a donation box before spending the money on food and commercial sex services. Police said he was caught after returning to the temple to steal again.
