By Katherine Schiffner

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Tibetan monks came to Everett Thursday to promote healing and peace, but apparently somebody didn’t get the message.

Thieves stole more than $200 worth of items from the monks’ van and tried to take their trailer, said Ben Jennings, road manager for the "Mystical Arts of Tibet" concert.

"What’s kind of ironic is that after the concert someone had told us there was a lot of crime in the area, and asked if there were any special prayers she could say," Jennings said. "Then, sure enough."

The event, which drew about 1,100 people, included ceremonial chanting, instrumental music, ritual dance and the monks’ renowned multi-phonic singing.

Jennings said the monks, from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, shared a few prayers with the woman and may say more for the people who stole from the van.

"They might say some prayers for the people who are doing this to feel some compassion so they would not feel the need to do this," Jennings said.

The van was parked outside the Howard Johnson Hotel at 3105 Pine St., and the theft apparently occurred after the monks’ free concert at the Everett Civic Auditorium.

"I’m sure the people trying to break in had no idea what was there or who it belonged to," Jennings said. But he added, "This is like breaking into a church van. I think the people doing this should think about the people being affected by it."

The thieves stole a CD player, minidisc recorder, microphone and some CDs, and broke the van’s window, but didn’t get their hands on the T-shirts, CDs and other items stored in the trailer, Jennings said.

"We got very lucky, because if our trailer had been broken into our tour might not have been able to continue," he said.

Jennings said the monks’ traditional Tibetan instruments, costumes and masks were safely stored in the hotel room.

He said the monks have been on tour for 15 months — including a stop in New York City earlier this month — and this is the first time anything has been stolen from them.

The monks may not have a prayer of seeing the stolen property again. "It’s infrequent that we are able to recover property from these types of thefts," said Everett Police Department Sgt. Boyd Bryant.

None of the items had been recovered, and there were no suspects as of Friday afternoon, Bryant said.

Jennings said they’ll look for safer places to park in the future and will take more items inside with them when they stay overnight. Despite the theft, he said the monks had a positive experience in Everett.

The concert has been endorsed by the Dalai Lama as a means of promoting world peace and healing through sacred performing art.

Tibet’s Drepung Loseling Monastery was established in 1416. Since the 1959 Chinese invasion of Tibet, the monks have been in exile in southern India.

You can call Herald Writer Katherine Schiffner at 425-339-3436 or send e-mail to schiffner@heraldnet.com.