Officials have apprehended a group of thieves who attempted to break into China's ancient Guanghui Temple, in the Hebei province.
The eight-member gang of tomb raiders hatched quite an elaborate plan: They rented a restaurant near the temple and tried to dig a 165-foot tunnel into the ancient site. The group hoped to loot the temple's Hua Pagoda, which is decorated with elaborate carvings, including Buddhas as well as elephants and other animals, Ancient Origins reports. The temple dates to the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 907 C.E.
The plan almost worked, too: The thieves made it within 65 feet of the pagoda before they were caught. Police grew suspicious when the restaurant never opened, and they eventually received a tip about suspicious activity there. The officials found the tunnel just in time, and their investigation revealed that the group had been at work on the tunnel for months.
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Five people involved in the attempted heist were arrested, but the other three are still at large. Ancient Origins notes that tomb raiding is common in China, and criminals are developing more and more elaborate schemes to get their hands on historical treasures.
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