Thief estimates magistrate's curio collection at US$2.4 mil.

Chou Chin-chien, 53, of Chiayi, was arrested on Thursday.

He owned up to investigators he broke into the home of the Chiayi magistrate on November 13 last year. The magistrate wasn't at home. Nor were his family.

Helped by two friends, Chou was able to get away with all the curios kept at Chen's empty home.

A Chiayi police lieutenant quoted Chou as bragging he was an art connoisseur. “He said he knew how to rate the curiosities,” the lieutenant added.

“And he said the collection was worth more than NT$70 million,” the lieutenant said.

The collection, including chinaware once owned by the Qianlong emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the Empress Dowager, was recovered early this year.

“Those pieces of china alone were valued at NT$10 million,” the Chiayi police lieutenant quoted Chou as saying.

Asked whether he knew his collection was almost valueless, the Chiayi magistrate said he would like to sell it for a mere NT$1 million.

“All the chinaware I have were bought as souvenirs at souvenir shops,” Chen said. “I have no curios,” he declared.

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