Steles or stone slabs bearing inscriptions of verses from the Holy Qoran have also been stolen. They had been installed over the doors of the houses, most of which date back a century and are located in the historical quarter of city.
Drug addicts are believed to be stealing the steles and knockers to support their drug habit, a cultural heritage expert who requested to remain anonymous told the news agency.
Some thieves have even stolen entire doors from historical houses, the expert said.
The Shiraz thefts aren’t alone and may be part of a trend. Last November, one of two knockers on the doors of the Imam Mosque in Esfahan was reported stolen. That mosque is a part of Esfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
Last spring, about a dozen bronze statues and busts vanished from Tehran’s parks and cultural sites. They were all modern, however. No one has been arrested in those statuary thefts and none of the stolen goods has been found.
