Stolen Buddhas Found Dumped On Sattahip Road

Police recovered three brass Buddha statues left on a roadside, each about 1-meter tall and weighing 100 kg. The statues were apparently stolen from a temple. But the thieves were likely afraid of being caught trying to sell the statues, so they dumped the Buddhas.

SATTAHIP – November 30, 2012 [PDN]; at 3 p.m., a report of three Buddha statues left on the side of the road was received by Pol. Sub. Lt. Ubol Wongkhamchai, investigation officer, Sattahip police station.

He went to check the scene with Pol. Col. Chonnaphat Nawalak, Superintendent, Sattahip police station; Pol. Lt. Col. Prakorb Saengpring, Deputy Superintendent; Pol. Lt. Col. Niphon Pomsanarm, Deputy Superintendent; and the detective police team.

The police were notified by officers of the municipal Public Health and Environment department in Tambon Bang Saray. The statues were found on Soi Na Jomtien 27, near the pond, and next to a mound of trash in Tambon Bang Saray, municipal Moo 3, Amphur Sattahip, Chonburi.

The dumped statues were about 500 meters from Sukhumvit road. Two statues were images of Mudra meditation, and the third statue was of Mudra conquering an enemy. The statues were all made of brass, about 1-meter tall, and 30 inches wide. Each statue weighed approximately 100 kg.

There was no indication which temple the statues belonged to. The statues were in good condition, with no sign of damage. There was no clue as to who left the statues on the roadside. It took four police officers to carry each Buddha statue to place in a vehicle to transport to the police station.

Bystanders watching the police take away the statues were cursing the unknown thieves for their bad karma. The statues were taken to the Sattahip police station and stored in the Nakbhanphot meeting room.

Pol. Lt. Col. Prakorb Saengpring said he assumed that the thieves stole the brass Buddha images from a temple, and had intended to sell the stolen property to the market vendors, or to foreign collectors. But the thieves were likely afraid of being arrested, so they left the statutes on the side of the road

So far no temple has notified police of any stolen Buddha statues. Police will temporarily hold the statues until a temple claims them. A detective police team was assigned to follow up and track down the thieves, to prosecute further according to the law.

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Type : Crime News
Story : Nattaphummint
Photo : Nattaphummint