SACRAMENTO (Diya TV) – A Hindu temple in south Sacramento was robbed over the weekend, the latest crime against Hindu places of worship in North America.
Surveillance footage captured two masked men breaching the temple’s security around 2:15 a.m. on Monday at the Hari Om Radha Krishna Mandir located on La Mancha Way. The thieves made off with a substantial 100-pound donation box, leaving the temple’s leaders stunned.
Guru Maharaj said, “They knew what they were doing. They must have seen, they must have come here before or they must have been told. It could very well be one of our community people that did that, the way they ran in the dark area. The area is like a maze; they knew right where the donation box is.”
Aside from the monetary loss, the temple is deeply concerned about the theft of personal checks. Fortunately, the thieves did not touch a sacred statue that adorned the donation box.
With Diwali just two weeks away, the temple will be forced to scale back their celebratory plans. Guru Maharaj shared his concerns, “Diwali is celebrated at night, so I don’t think we will be able to have the extravagant prayers and gatherings like we usually do because we do want to ensure everyone’s safety. But we are traumatized and scared.”
The burglars made their getaway in a blue SUV, and the temple is seeking any information that may lead to their capture. In the meantime, the temple is investing in a robust $3,600 per month security system to prevent such incidents in the future.
According to police dispatchers, surveillance video showed six suspects on the temple grounds, with two entering the temple itself at the time of the incident. As of now, the police have not identified any suspects, and no arrests have been made in connection with the crime. The investigation is ongoing.
