KYOTO — A man arrested Monday by Kyoto Prefectural Police on suspicion of stealing an image of a Buddha from a Kyoto temple has admitted to the theft of two other Buddhist icons, investigators said.

The suspect, 59-year-old vending machine repair company president Itsuo Abe of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, was arrested on theft charges for the heist of the wooden 11-faced seated Kannon (juichi-men Kannon zazo) from the Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward.

It was revealed by police that Abe had also admitted to the theft of two other Buddhist statues from the Toji Temple in Kyoto’s Minami Ward and the Bishamon-do Temple in Yamashina Ward. Police believe he stole Fudomyo-o from the Toji Temple and Bishamonten-zo from the Bishamon-do Temple.

More: Company president suspected of stealing 2 more historic Buddhist icons – The Mainichi Daily News.