Police in Xianyang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, offers a reward of one million yuan ($145,000) for a pair of stone lions dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) which have been missing for ten years. Photo: Screenshot of a video posted by The Beijing News

Police in Xianyang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, are offering a reward of one million yuan ($145,000) for a pair of stone lions dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) which have been missing for 10 years. The reward, which will be given to anyone who provides significant clues leading to their recovery, is expected to lure accomplices to report their own crimes, media reported Tuesday.  

The reward was set after ten years of failed attempts from the police to trace the stones, a first-grade cultural relic in China, which were stolen in April 2010. 

Monday's reward notice says that anyone who can provide significant clues that could lead to major progress in cracking the case would be rewarded one million yuan. 

It also specifies that accomplices in the case could have their punishments mitigated or even waived as long as they report themselves to the police.  

"Since the case has been stretching on for ten years, the large reward is likely to lure out accomplices to report their own crimes for the sake of money," a local police officer said, noting that accomplices with the least involvement in the case are their major targets.