The recent theft of $50,000 from the Chinese Buddhist Association of Hawaii in Nuuanu appears to be the work of a serial thief who has stolen several times from another temple in Honolulu, temple members say.
"Somehow he has to be stopped," said Jeanne Lum, association president.
A man pretending to help workers in preparation for the temple’s 60th anniversary went through the belongings of seven visiting monks from China and stole a total of $50,000 Tuesday, she said. The man’s identity is unknown.
Honolulu police were investigating the theft of the $50,000 but had no information regarding prior thefts, a police spokesman said.
Police were reviewing surveillance video of the man entering the temple area.
The thief offered to help the abbot, who was coming out of the library dragging two chairs, Lum said.
Lum said the man moved the chairs to the dining hall and then left.
She said the abbot sat down for lunch and didn’t know the man went back into the library, where the monks had their bags.
Lum said a volunteer saw the man enter the library but thought the man was helping the abbot.
In a matter of minutes the man and money were gone, she said.
Lum said she’s talked with members of the Hawaii Buddhist Cultural Society, at Queen and Alakea streets, who said several similar thefts have happened to them.
Lina Chan, a member of the Hawaii Buddhist Cultural Society, said the latest theft was on Chinese New Year in 2012.
Chan said the man volunteered to help temple workers but took the temple key, sneaked into the temple and stole thousands of dollars in cash.
"He’s looks like a wonderful person," Chan said. "He’s really a terrible person."
