Bali temple thief caught<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali: Police on Monday detained a 16-year-old boy
\nfor allegedly stealing a sacred statue and mask at a Hindu temple
\nhere.<\/p>\n
The suspect has reportedly confessed that he burgled many
\ntemples during the past year.<\/p>\n
A native of Banyuwangi, East Java, the teenager had allegedly
\nstolen the artifacts from the Tut Desa Temple in Peguyangan
\nvillage, some 10-kilometers north of here.<\/p>\n
The boy confessed to stealing them before dawn on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"He wasn't aware that he was spotted by a local villager, who
\nin turn gave us a full physical description of the suspect,\"
\nGeneral Crimes unit chief First Insp. Herlan Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"That's one of the reasons we were able to solve this case
\nquickly,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The suspect also confessed to police that in the past he had
\ncommitted burglaries at 11 other temples.<\/p>\n
The sacred artifacts were usually then sold to a dealer for a
\nprice of between Rp 150,000 to Rp 300,000.<\/p>\n
The dealer then shipped the artifacts to nearby Lombok, West
\nNusa Tenggara and then resold them there as antiques.<\/p>\n
\"We are now tracking down the dealer, and another burglar,
\nwho, according to the suspect, assisted him,\" Herlan
\nexplained.(zen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-temple-thief-caught-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}