Police seeking suspect in Hamilton Hindu Temple break and enter

Hamilton Police are asking the public to helpidentify a maninvolved in a break-and-enter at theHindu Samaj Temple on the Mountain.

Police say a man broke into the the temple on Twenty Road East on Feb. 2, shortly before 3:30 a.m.

They say he stole a religious flute and cash before leaving the temple and walking toward the road.

The incident comes after three Hindutemples in Peel Region had some $25,000 stolen from them in a series ofbreak-ins.

"Maybe they know there are donation boxes where people put their offerings," temple presidentRamesh Panchal told CBC Hamilton.

Hamilton police have not confirmed a connection between the incidents.

Panchal said the community has been "spooked" by the incident and the night after viewing the security footage, Panchalsaid he couldn't sleep.

The priest who was sleeping in the temple the night of the incident and who has living quarters there has been staying elsewhere since, Panchal added.

Because of COVID-19, there have been fewer visits to the temple and Panchal said the donation box, which had been broken open, did not contain a significant amount of money. As for the gold-plated silver flute now missing from the hand of statue of Krishna, "I can't put a value on it," he said.

Panchal said unlike the arson that destroyed the temple in 2001, he doesn't think this incident is a hate crime.

Police say the man involvedwaswhitewith darker skin and facial hair. They add he wasbetween 25 and 30 years old, and weighed roughly 170 to 180 pounds. They also say his height was betweenfive-foot-eightand five-foot-10.

Police say he was wearing:

• A black-and-red Toronto Raptors toque.
• A blue-and-green-coloured winter jacket with a hood.
• A red-and-white arm band going around the right arm.
• Camouflagepants with black, white, grey and blue.
• Black running shoes and wascarrying a blue-and-black backpackwith Puma written in white.

Hamilton police say anyone with information about the break-in at theHindu Samaj Temple can call Det. Sgt.Andrea Torrie at 905-546-2991 or Det. Const. Derek Donn at 905-546-8934.