Updated: 02/23/2013 16:56 | By Agence France-Presse

Taiwan police arrest tomb raider: report

Police in Taiwan have arrested a suspected grave robber thought to have stolen gold jewellery worth more than half a million dollars from hundreds of tombs across the island, a report said on Saturday.

Taiwan police arrest tomb raider: report

Taiwan police arrest tomb raider: report

The man, identified only by his surname Cheng, was arrested in western Yunlin county on Friday after his car was caught on a surveillance camera at a cemetery raided last month, said the Central News Agency.

Cheng told police he starting robbing tombs in 2009 with three accomplices and that he sold the jewellery he stole from about 500 tombs for Tw$15 million (more than US$500,000), the report said.

According to police, Cheng dug up graves at night and cut holes in coffins above the wrists of the deceased to remove gold rings and bracelets, it said.

It is customary in Chinese culture to bury the dead with favourite objects they used while alive, including jewellery.

Yunlin police were not immediately available for comment.

MORE REGIONAL NEWS

Latest Photo Galleries on xinmsn

NEWS VIDEOS

MORE NEWS VIDEOS

facebook recommendations

LIVE NEWS RADIO STREAMING

  • 938 Live
    938LIVE

    938LIVE is Singapore's only English news and talk station which transmits round the clock with an engaging and enticing spread of programmes on current affairs, health, business and lifestyle as well as news every half hour until midnight.

  • Capital 958
    Capital 958


    95.8FM城市频道的前身是"第三广播网"。上个世纪30年代末，新加坡就有中文广播，一路走来经过不少政治，社会局势的改变，中文广播在本地一直扮演举足轻重的角色。