SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) – Burglars struck the Shiv Durga Temple in Santa Clara in the early morning hours of August 28, smashing the glass front door and making off with the temple’s donation box and sacred ornaments within just two minutes. Surveillance footage captured the break-in, which occurred around 3:30 a.m., and showed the suspects touching murtis and looting valuables, including approximately $10,000 in cash from recent Ganesh Chaturthi and Janmashtami celebrations.

This is the second time the same temple has been targeted in less than two years. On January 1, 2024, thieves similarly broke in, stealing jewelry adorning the temple’s deities and looting donation boxes, leaving the community in shock. “The main thing that hurt all of us was how they misbehaved with the gods,” temple board president Sunil Khanna said at the time, describing the spiritual violation as deeper than material loss.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, who traveled to meet temple leaders in Santa Clara this week, condemned the latest incident in strong terms and reaffirmed his commitment to defending the Hindu American community. “The perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice immediately,” he said. “We must also collectively condemn these abhorrent acts of violence as incidents targeting Hindu temples across the United States are on the rise. In America, everyone should be able to pray in peace and safety — and I will continue to speak out, show up, and offer my support to preserve this sacred ideal.”

California has witnessed a disturbing string of temple attacks in recent years. The Shiv Durga Temple is not alone. On January 5, 2024, the Shree Ashta Lakshmi Temple in Fremont was burglarized. That same day, Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward was defaced with graffiti. On January 11, the Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple in Dublin was also struck. By September, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento had been vandalized, and the SMVS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Newark faced similar desecration just days before Christmas.

In March 2025, another Southern California temple was spray-painted with anti-India hate messages, part of a growing trend of incidents that combine religious desecration with ethnic intimidation. While economic motives may drive some of these burglaries, leaders say it’s impossible to ignore the undercurrent of hate.

Despite the repeated targeting of places of Hindu worship, even bringing the episodes to the attention of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, arrests remain rare, and investigations often stall.

The Santa Clara community continues to call for decisive action. As the latest theft once again shakes a congregation still healing from past wounds, Krishnamoorthi’s visit brought both comfort and urgency.

For the Hindu American community, the message is clear: solidarity is critical, but so is justice. Temples are not just buildings, they are sacred homes to centuries-old traditions and living symbols of faith. Their violation is not just a theft of property, but of dignity and peace.