Jun 02 (NHK) - Police in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, are investigating the thefts of nearly 100 Buddhist and Shinto statues.
Investigators say thieves have made off with at least 98 items over the past 3-and-half years. They say in many cases, there was no one stationed at the targeted temples and shrines.
80 percent of the thefts took place in 2 cities, Iwade and Kinokawa, in the northern part of the prefecture.
Two of the statues stolen in Kinokawa date back to the Heian era, which lasted for about 400 years until the late 12th century.
Police believe a crime group is behind the thefts. They are working with local authorities and urging residents to install security cameras in their neighborhoods.