A break-in at a local Hindu temple has police searching for a pair of thieves who made off with more than $10,000 in cash and valuables.
Just before 4 a.m. Aug. 28, two culprits smashed the front door of Shiv Durga Temple of Bay Area, 3550 Flora Vista Ave. in Santa Clara. After forcibly gaining entry, the culprits looted money from the donation boxes.
Vishal Arora, with the temple, said the ADT alarm was sounding and that video surveillance footage showed the thieves were in and out within two minutes. He said the culprits appeared to be a man and a woman. The man, he said, stayed outside while the woman entered the store and walked off with the donation box.
Lt. Eric Lagergren, public information officer for the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), wrote in an email that following the theft, the thieves drove off in a Honda Accord. Lagergren wrote that police do not yet know whether the car fits the description of any cars reported stolen.
The break-in is the second time the temple has been burglarized in the past two years. In late December 2023, another group of thieves broke into the temple, stealing $13,000 in cash and other items valued at $3,000.
Although slightly different in its execution, the incident shares a commonality with other local crimes — a slew of Sunnyvale jewelry store robberies and robbery attempts, mostly along El Camino Real, starting in April. Those stores that were targeted are largely Indian-owned, mostly because of the highly valuable jewelry the stores sell.
Despite the similarity and the previous burglary, Lagergren wrote that the burglary “does not appear to be a situation that has occurred with any great frequency in Santa Clara.” The investigation is ongoing.
Police encourage religious institutions to secure their valuables and do whatever they can to protect themselves. For better insight into how to do this, the SCPD webpage provides a substantial list of Tips and Resources on the Department website to assist.
Anyone with information about this incident should call SCPD at (408) 615-4700. Alternatively, those who wish to remain nameless can leave a message on the SCPD anonymous tip line at (408) 615-4TIP (4847).
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
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Situation lease were no causalities just burglary: Indian community those whom. Identify with heritage the community residing in Bay Area: majority have enriched bigotry. Regarding whom viable don’t go there with me, without generalizing! Guess assumption whom ideal residents or vocations eluding to hidden world. Crime which never decrease in Asian community whom, Indian and Chinese plenty of cyber crimes,home invasions and car jacking! Forgotten media depiction there impervious appropriate demographics Mayor Klein if your incline. Resolution to bigotry of Sunnyvale so called city of placid accordance a joke always belittling Gilroy and San Jose! Dan,Ava and Hank your hierarchy of Public Safety making half millions in compensations: dissatisfied with your reign failed. Tax payers of Sunnyvale Hank and Ava Asian community aloof upon reporting forgotten going depreciate property values. Chief Dan rising robberies targeting whom, Asian community majority internal this crime. Simply groups aware of targets along those knowledge of business. Bias from Indian community there attitude towards heterogenous heritage of USA! How most in Sunnyvale,Los Altos and Santa Clara hold repugnance against diversity without generalizing! Chief Dan,Ava and Hank whom usually guilty there own, plenty Asian gangs continue tormenting victims and business! Sunnyvale ideal city of hidden criminal statistics! Trump going place Sunnyvale soon on list send in Federal troops. Chief Dan any suggestions since residents paying high taxes!
Wake up living in “Glass enclosures” referring attitude ideal metropolitan area. Impervious attitude those not from certain regions in Bay area” are unclothed materialism which is prevalent! Indian community has social gatherings why haven’t media: presented robberies from Indian criminals! Sunnyvale many cities experienced “Party bashers” yeah, Chief Dan never invited to gathering. Suddenly there burglarized not suppose color of suspected criminals. Forgotten Indian community continues to generalize regarding social merit and income. Plenty of those without credentials Mayor Klein you sold area! Ideal city of placid encounters bashing San Jose with crime nonsense! Chief Dan any suggestion upon prevention? Hello! Forgotten criminals don’t targe those of financial hierarchy Mayor Klein your on the map due. So called riches hiding little realm of idealism, Sunnyvale prefect city everybody is safe. Plenty of car jacking illegal gang members blame San Jose! Mayor Klein and Chief Dan audacity to “racial profile” many never the Asian nor Indian community! Forgotten were shocked from what, misleading statistics ideal Indian hold career merit. Others are lower unclothed please!