UDON THANI — 17 January 2026, A rooftop “ninja” thief struck an amulet stall for the fourth time in a month, stealing religious items worth nearly 300,000 baht and prompting police to intensify a manhunt, authorities said.
Police were alerted to the burglary at the Udon Thani Municipal Amulet Centre, where the suspect entered through the roof before breaking through the ceiling and stealing several amulets and Buddha statues, said investigators from Muang Udon Thani police station.
The owner, 57-year-old Issara Phuk, told police the thief climbed onto shelving, punched through the ceiling and lowered himself into the stall. Closed-circuit television footage showed the suspect at about 03:53 on 16 January 2026 wearing a long-sleeved top with a hood, calmly carrying out the theft despite an audible siren and an automated warning announcing an intruder.
Issara said the same thief is believed to be responsible for three previous break-ins at the stall. This time, six well-known religious items were taken, including Luang Phor Phra Bhucha, a Luang Phor Sothon amulet and a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue, with losses estimated at tens of thousands of baht. The suspect also damaged CCTV cameras and removed a memory card before fleeing.
Police said a special investigative unit, known as the “Phirun” team, has been deployed to gather evidence and track down the suspect, noting that repeated attacks suggest the thief may strike again if not apprehended.
Issara said the four burglaries over the past month have cost him more than 300,000 baht in total. He described the suspect as a professional who knows the shop’s vulnerabilities well.
“The first time he broke the door. The next time he tried to pry his way in, so I bricked it up,” Issara said. “This time he came from above, through the roof, snapped the camera, cut the power and took the memory card. It’s as if he knows the entire system.”
Visibly distressed, Issara said weak business conditions and repeated thefts have left him exhausted and close to giving up the trade he has worked in for nearly a decade. He urged police to act swiftly, noting that the stolen items were large and difficult to move alone.
“How can one person steal things this big and still not be caught?” he said. “If this continues, I may have no choice but to quit.”