In modern society, many people may not believe in gods and Buddhas and consider them superstitious. However, instances of divine intervention are not unheard of. The following case from Taiwan illustrates that “the heavens are not blind to human affairs” and can even help the police.
Stolen cables
According to the Central News Agency, power cables from the Taiwan Power Company were stolen in Zhubei and Hsinchu counties, causing electricity supply issues and significantly impacting citizens’ daily lives. Consequently, Police Chief Wen Zhifa instructed the Criminal Investigation Division and the Zhubei Police Precinct to form a special task force and sought the guidance of Prosecutor Yang Zhongping from the Hsinchu District Prosecutor’s Office to lead the investigation.
Task force members traced the thefts by reviewing surveillance footage near the crime scenes. They observed the suspect entering the crime scene on a bicycle and leaving about half an hour later with stolen cables visibly hanging on the bike. Further investigation revealed that the suspect transported the stolen cables to a temple in Zhubei City dedicated to the Earth Deity, where he stripped the cables to extract the copper wire for resale.
The police entered the Earth God temple
The police then inspected the location where the suspect had stripped the cables. Upon entering the Earth God temple, they devoutly lit incense and prayed for the swift resolution of the case. What happened next was astonishing! After the officers finished their prayers and placed incense in the vessel, they turned around only to find a man with similar features to the suspect riding a bicycle. They immediately approached to question him.
After further comparisons, the police confirmed that the hairstyle and facial features of the man, surnamed Li, matched those captured in the surveillance footage. The man confessed on the spot, admitting that due to financial difficulties, he had resorted to risking electrocution by cutting and stealing Taiwan Power Company cables in the Zhubei area.
Everything is under the watchful eyes of Heaven
He confessed to carrying a utility knife and a saw blade. After cutting through all the interconnected PE cables from Taiwan Power, he transported them to the Earth God temple, where he stripped the cables to extract the copper. He then sold the copper to nearby recycling centers for NT$120 (US$3.82) per kilogram. Following interrogation of the case, the suspect was prosecuted for theft.
This incident of the Earth God assisting the police in solving the case became a heartening story for the public. It reinforces the belief in the old saying, “The mills of the gods grind slowly but exceedingly fine.” Every thought, word, and deed of humans is under the watchful eyes of Heaven. Therefore, you must never commit acts that betray your conscience, pervert justice, or defy moral principles.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Amanda
