In California, USA, a Hindu temple (Hari Om Temple) was broken into by burglars who took a donation box, which surprised the Indian community. This happened on Monday around 2:15 a.m. in the Parkway neighborhood, as reported by the Sacramento Bee newspaper. The Sacramento Police Department is looking into the burglary at the Hindu Temple.
The police didn’t say exactly what was stolen, but radio communications mentioned that a donation box was taken.
Dispatchers informed that surveillance video showed six individuals on the temple premises, with two of them inside the temple when the police were contacted, according to the report.
The police haven’t arrested anyone yet, but they are still looking into the matter.
In the meantime, a US-based group called the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has strongly criticized the incident. They’ve asked the Sacramento Police to treat this case seriously and consider it as a possible hate crime.
“Disturbing news from Sacramento, California where a #HinduTemple has been broken into. We ask @SacPolice to take this issue very seriously and investigate it as a potential hate crime and the violation of a sacred space. Police are asking for public help in identifying the suspects,” they posted on X.
Disturbing news from Sacramento, California where a #HinduTemple has been broken into. We ask @SacPolice to take this issue very seriously and investigate it as a potential hate crime and the violation of a sacred space. Police are asking for public help in identifying the…
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) October 31, 2023
Guru Maharaj and his wife were at their house when they got a notification.
“The first thing I saw was the curtains blowing and I said, ‘Oh, my God. Somebody is in the building,’ Maharaj’s wife was reported as saying by CBS news.
As seen in the temple’s video, someone attempted to force their way through three doors and a car.
“They went right through to the donation box in darkness,” Maharaj stated.
The video reveals the thieves lifting the box and taking it behind the building. They picked up the box, which is said to weigh nearly 100 pounds, carried it over the fence, put it into their getaway car, and drove away.
“It’s a very big hit to our community and we’re here to help people out,” Maharaj mentioned.
