NSW Police have arrested four suspects in connection with a series of temple break-ins that left Canberra’s Hindu community reeling.
The arrests were made in Yass, a town on the periphery of the Southern Tablelands and South West Slopes of New South Wales, after the suspects were stopped by officers; however, no charges have yet been laid by ACT Policing following the incidents.
ACT Police said in an email statement to The Australia Today:
“NSW Police arrested four people in relation to this incident after they were stopped in Yass….At this time, no charges have been laid by ACT Policing following the two burglary incidents.”
The community was stunned on 26 October 2024, as two Hindu temples in Canberra were desecrated in a brazen daylight crime spree.
CCTV footage from the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre in Florey captured four masked individuals in a black Honda van ramming through the temple’s front door around 1:30 pm.
Once inside, the perpetrators stole three small donation boxes and a massive 200 kg box containing thousands of dollars. Using a wheelbarrow found on-site, they loaded the heavy box into their van and fled, all in just 15 minutes.
“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by this senseless act,” Temple Vice President Shree Tarun Agasti told The Australia Today.
“This vandalism affects not only our community but challenges the values of respect and inclusivity in Canberra.”
Shortly after, the same individuals allegedly targeted the Vishnu Shiva Temple, arriving at 2 pm when the temple was closed for a lunch break.
Armed with a crowbar, they forced their way inside, vandalising the reception area and stealing cash-filled safes.
Their assault on the temple grew even more destructive as they ripped out concrete-embedded donation boxes with sledgehammers, violated sacred areas, and shattered the revered Shiva Lingam, a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva.
Temple President Thamo Sritharan described the community’s distress, noting,
“It’s heartbreaking to witness such desecration of our place of worship. Targeting temples in this way is unacceptable.”
He urged the newly elected government to take swift action to protect Canberra’s Hindu community from further attacks.
NSW Police told The Australia Today that on Saturday, 26 October 2024, around 6 pm, Hume Police District officers attempted to stop a black SUV in Murrumbateman. The vehicle failed to stop, prompting a police pursuit that was soon terminated for safety reasons. The pursuit was briefly reinitiated before being stopped again.
At approximately 8:45 pm, the SUV was located on Westbourne Road, Jugiong, where police arrested the driver, a 29-year-old man, and three passengers aged 39, 37, and 33. A search of the SUV uncovered cash boxes, guitars, jewellery, and power tools.
The driver was charged with multiple offences, including dangerous driving, driving without a licence, possession of stolen property, and participating in a criminal group, as well as two outstanding warrants. He was denied bail and is set to appear at Goulburn Local Court on 13 November 2024.
The three passengers were charged with receiving stolen property, failure to wear seatbelts, and involvement in criminal activity. They were granted conditional bail to appear at Yass Local Court on 14 November 2024.
Note: This story has been updated with further information received from NSW Police.
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