Theft of antiques calls for tougher measures

Nine months, 175 suspects, 10 illegal trade gangs and 1,168 antique items - a recent case solved by the police, which involves theft and illegal trade of antiques, has been ranked by some domestic media as the biggest since 1949. Even one of the earliest jade pieces from China's ancient civilization records appeared on the list of stolen artifacts. Comments:

The gangs were not only large in scale, they were also so well organized that the police spent nine months bringing them to justice. While the illegal antique trade gangs keep updating their equipment and training, the State invests so little in the protection of antiques that each of its staff members is now in charge of the security for antiques at about 100 sites on average; the same staff face corruption, spying and other problems. How can domestic antiques be properly protected by such a weak guard against so strong an enemy?

Beijing Times, May 28