Scams & Safety

Two foreigners steal gold lion statue from Chiang Mai pub, caught on CCTV

2 min readFebruary 17, 2026BahtWise Team

Photo courtesy of The Thaiger

Two foreigners got caught on security cameras stealing a gold lion statue from a pub in Chiang Mai on February 11. The pub owner has filed a police report.

The CCTV footage shows a foreign man in a white T-shirt approaching a table where the gold lion statue was displayed. He's working with a foreign woman — they clearly planned this together.

Look, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes locals wary of tourists. Stealing decorative items from businesses? Come on.

What this means for travelers

This stuff reflects on all of us. When foreigners get caught stealing — especially something as obvious as a decorative statue — it reinforces negative stereotypes about tourists.

Chiang Mai's pub and bar scene is pretty chill. Most places trust customers around their decorations and artifacts. Stories like this make owners more cautious, which means less relaxed atmospheres for everyone else.

The reality check

Security cameras are everywhere in Thailand now. Everywhere. If you're thinking about pocketing something that isn't yours, assume you're being recorded. Thai police take theft reports seriously, especially when there's clear video evidence.

The gold lion was probably worth more in sentimental value to the pub owner than actual money. These decorative pieces often have meaning beyond their material cost.

Don't be these people. Respect the places you visit. That decorative item you think looks cool? It belongs to someone who worked to create the space you're enjoying.

The investigation is ongoing. Thai police are pretty good at following up on cases with clear evidence like this.

Source: The Thaiger

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