CHIANG MAI – Police are searching for two foreigners, a man and women, after they were captured on CCTV spraying graffiti across the city, from temple walls to shop shutters and public buildings.

Phra Kru Palad Preeda Jaiboon, abbot of Wat Dok Euang, a 400-year-old Buddhist temple in tambon Sri Phum, Muang district, filed a complaint with Chiang Mai city police on Tuesday. He handed over CCTV footage that shows a couple spraying painting graffiti the outer wall at around 1am on 30 January.

Phra Apiphu Boonthalu, a monk at the temple, told reporters that the wall has been targeted again and again in recent months. He said the vandals left foreign-language tags and painted symbols. The temple has spent tens of thousands of baht repainting the surface, but the graffiti keeps returning soon after.

“We want the police to find the people responsible and take legal action,” Phra Apiphu said. “It needs to set an example and stop it happening again.”

foreign couple spray painting temple chiang mai

The issue is not limited to Wat Dok Euang. Graffiti has also been reported on residential fences, shopfront shutters, and public buildings in different parts of the city.

Phra Apiphu said Chiang Mai’s city area is home to 38 temples, many of them centuries old and seen as culturally important. He added that most have been hit by spray-painting on their walls.

Pol Maj Gen Yutthana Kaenchan, commander of Chiang Mai Provincial Police, has instructed patrol units to step up surveillance and urgently track down those behind the vandalism. Police are also aiming to prevent repeat offences and copycat behaviour.

foreign couple spray painting temple chiang mai

Siwa Thamikkanon, deputy governor of Chiang Mai, said the province has received regular complaints about vandalism at temples. He said officials are working with the Office of Buddhism, police, and other agencies to address the problem.

The deputy governor warned that graffiti could encourage copycats, especially in the old city where many temples sit close to tourist areas. He said the damage is more than visual, it upsets local Buddhists and may harm Chiang Mai’s image as it is being proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status.