Hindu temples shaken by series of break-ins in Peel Region

Three Hindutemples in Peel Region are hoping for answers after thousands of dollars were stolen from them in a series ofbreak-ins over the span of just days.

Maa Chintpurni Mandir and Shri Gauri Shankar Mandirin Brampton as well asthe Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga werebroken into on separate nights late January.

Maa Chintpurni Mandir was broken into on Jan. 25.CBC obtained security footage of the break-in,showing a man climbing through a window before making offwith the temple's donation box.

Hari Bhajan Sharma, thetemple's head priest, says the crimes haveshaken the community.

"We came from India all the way to Canada,thinking that Canada is the safest place in the world," said Sharma, calling the thefts "disturbing."

The temple has since increased its security with a live 24-hour feed, multiple camerasand someone awake and on the premisesthroughout the night.

All three temples provided CBC with security footage and appear to show a thief working with a driver.The temples' priests estimate about $25,000 wasstolen.

'He knows everything'

Two days prior to the Maa Chintpurni Mandir break-in and less than five kilometres down the road,Shri Gauri Shankar Mandirwas also broken into.

Dhirendar Tripathi, a priest atthe temple, says about $4,000 to $,5000in donations was taken. Hesuspects someone familiar with the communityis behind the attacks.

"He knows everything what time [we] close, what time [we] open and [where] to go."

The Hindu Heritage Centre was broken into on Jan. 30.

According to head priest Surendra Sharma Shastri, the thief brokeinto the electrical room from outside. The room doesn't have indoor access, he said.

After 20 minutes inside, Shastri says the thief appears to have cut a hole in the wall and jumped several feet down to the banquet room stage to gain access tothe donation boxes.

Shastri says the temple is well-known within Toronto'sHindu community. He says many are calling for answers, sending in emails and frequently asking for updates on the investigation.

Peel Regional Police did not provideastatement onthe investigation in time for publication, however Shastri says he's been told police believe the same individuals are behind all three robberies.

Meanwhile, Hari Bajan Sharma from Maa Chintpurni Mandir says while he doesn't know why this is happening, knowing it'saffectingHindu temples specifically is disheartening.

"Whoever [is] getting this thing done to our temples, they are doing bad to the community and our government should put their hand in and take out this kind of incident."

"And all communities doesn't matter if this is a temple or gurdwara or church or mosque all [religious] places should be safe and secure."