Mancha Khiri Police promptly arrested a drug-addicted man who sneaked in to steal money from the donation box at Udomkongkok Khiri Temple. CCTV footage captured the moment of the crime, showing him dancing and jumping before committing the theft.
At 11:00 a.m. on 31 July 2026 at Mancha Khiri Police Station, Pol. Col. Theerthat Phongsuwan, Chief of Mancha Khiri Police, along with several officers, arrested Wira Chat Kengwasing, 33, a resident of Village 6, Nangam Subdistrict, Mancha Khiri District, Khon Kaen Province, on charges of theft at a public place of worship and illegal use of a Category 1 drug (methamphetamine).
Pol. Col. Theerthat Phongsuwan, Chief of Mancha Khiri Police, stated that before the arrest, police investigators and officers inspected the scene where the suspect had stolen money from the donation box inside Udomkongkok Khiri Temple, Mancha Khiri District, Khon Kaen. They were collecting evidence from the temple's CCTV, which recorded a thin man aged about 30-35 years stealing money. The suspect was also seen performing a ritual dance. At that time, police received a report of a drunken man causing disturbances at a house in Village 6, Nangam Subdistrict, Mancha Khiri District. Police intervened and found the troublemaker was Wira Chat Kengwasing, 33, who was detained and subjected to a drug test.
The Mancha Khiri Police Chief added that during the detention of Wira Chat, who was causing disturbances, police noticed his clothing resembled that of the man seen stealing money from the donation box at Udomkongkok Khiri Temple. After a medical check, methamphetamine was detected in his system. Wira Chat admitted to taking two methamphetamine pills early that morning. He said he felt threatened and thought someone was trying to kill him, which led to his erratic behavior until police subdued him.
Regarding the theft from the temple donation box, police showed Wira Chat the CCTV footage. Upon seeing it, he confessed that he was the man who stole the money because he had no funds and wanted money to buy methamphetamine. He said he went to the temple intending to ask the monks and villagers for money but found no one there. He then went to the pavilion housing the Buddha statue, performed a ritual dance, paid respects, and prayed for success. After that, he took two incense sticks and used them to pick up banknotes of 50 and 20 baht denominations from the donation box. Having taken the money, he fled to his home to buy and use methamphetamine before being arrested.
After the interrogation and the suspect's confession, police took him to identify the crime scene and then detained him for prosecution by the investigating officers according to the law.