On April 29, Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of Hanoi City People’s Committee signed to issue Document No. 1586/UBND-TKBT to the Director of the City Public Security and Director of the Department of Culture and Sports about the investigation of the theft of antiques in the city.
The Document stated that, over the past time, in the city there has been the theft of antiques at national relics, many of which have high value. The Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee assigned the City Director of Public Security to direct the professional units to investigate the theft of antiques, strictly deal with the law; clarify the collective and individual responsibilities (if any) related to the relic protection in the locality; strengthen patrols, guard, guide the installation of protective equipment to detect and prevent in time acts of infringement of the relic.
Boi Khe Pagoda (Tam Hung commune, Thanh Oai district) lost the Bronze Buddha Statue. Photo: Tuyet Loan
The City People’s Committee also assigned the Director of the Department of Culture and Sports to urge and seriously implement the direction of Mr. Ngo Van Quy – Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee in Official Dispatch No. 5186/VP-KGVX dated 6/6/2019 about strengthening the management, protection and promotion of the value of historical, cultural, and scenic relics. Results of implementation are reported to the City Party Committee and City People’s Committee before May 15, 2020, the information will be answered to press agencies as prescribed.
Previously, according to the Capital Security Newspaper and many other mass media, in less than a month from mid-March to the first half of April 2020, in Thanh Oai district – Hanoi City, there have been 4 cases of antiques theft at Boi Khe pagoda, Dai Dinh communal house (Tam Hung commune), Du Du pagoda (Thanh Thuy commune) and Tu Chau pagoda (Lien Chau commune). The total number of antiques taken by thieves at these 4 relics is 26.
On March 13, a thief broke into the door and broke into Boi Khe pagoda (Song Khe village, Tam Hung commune) and took away the black bronze-born statue of Thich Ca Dan, about 70-80cm in height, this statue was placed at Tam Bao compartment. It is known that this is the 3rd time, this statue has been stolen by a thief. The two previous losses were found in original state and returned to the temple.
On March 16, Dai Dinh communal house (Dai Dinh village, Tam Hung commune) was locked by a thief, broke the door, and took away two sets of 16 chap kich, placed on both sides of Dai Bai’s compartment with two bronze censers, two bronze candles and an ancient porcelain vase.
On March 29, at Du Du pagoda – Thanh Thuy commune, a thief cut a lock and stole a bronze bell and two censers (located in Tam Bao).
On April 11, the thief continued to break into Tu Chau pagoda – Lien Chau commune to steal a bronze bell with a height of 1m, and a diameter of 0.6m.
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