Thieves steal 1,500 ornamental balls from railings around West Lake

Nguyen Dinh Khuyen, chairman of Tay Ho District, where the lake is located, said thieves have been stealing the balls for a year now and that more and more have disappeared in recent times.

Khuyen said thieves must have used hammers and crowbars to remove the balls, based on the damage left on the pillar where the balls were placed.

However, he said even when the thieves are caught, there is no foundation to press criminal charge against them as the value of those balls is not high.

The only damage the crime causes is that it affects the image of the iconic lake.

A man does exercises by the West Lake, when the railings remain undamaged, 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Tung

Currently, there is no specific force to guard the lake with each ward responsible for monitoring the lake area within their territory.

Covering more than 500 hectares with a perimeter of around 15 kilometers, West Lake in Tay Ho District is the largest natural lake in Hanoi.

The lake is one of Hanoi’s most popular tourist attractions where locals often walk or do outdoor exercise.

It is also famous for the density of historical relics, pagodas and rows of restaurants and coffee shops.