Former monk caught stealing from temple

By Chen Huizhi | February 27, 2015, Friday |

Online Edition

A former Buddhist monk was caught trying to steal from the temple in which he once served on Chinese New Year’s Eve, Shanghai police said today.

The 33-year-old suspect, who is surnamed Zhu, became a monk at Donglin Temple in Jinshan District at the age of 25 but eventually gave up monastic life.

Knowing all too well that monks are busy serving pious temple visitors on the 15th day of the lunar month, Zhu stole an iPhone and 1,000 yuan (US$160) in cash in a temple dormitory on the morning of February 3, police said.

Zhu told the police he was wearing a monk’s robe at that time and no one noticed him while he was in the dormitory. After getting away with it, he decided to return to the temple on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Only this time he was caught, police said.

Zhu was sentenced to 11 months in prison in 2008 and again in 2013 for stealing from temples. He was released from his second stint in prison at the end of last year.

According to police, Zhu is from a poor farming family with only a primary school education. He told officers he became a monk because he had no source of income.

Police said they’re still investigating the case.

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Former monk caught stealing from temple

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