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Deputy Chief Police Officer Doug Boudry recently met with Hindu community representatives to provide an update on arrests made following two incidents at Hindu temples in the ACT.
About 2pm on Saturday, 26 October 2024 a group of four men broke into the Mawson Hindu Temple and stole three donations boxes.
About 2.30pm, the same group broke into the Hindu Temple Cultural Centre in Florey and stole a safe and five donation boxes.
The group used a black Hyundai with Victorian number plates to attend both locations.
About 9.15pm that night, NSW Police in Yass informed ACT Policing that four men matching the descriptions of the burglary offenders had been arrested and stolen property associated with these burglaries was located in their vehicle. The men were charged by NSW Police for driving offences and possession of property stolen outside NSW. One will appear in Goulburn Court on 13 November 2024 and the other three will appear in Yass Court on 14 November 2024.
While no charges have been laid by ACT Policing at this time, investigations are continuing in conjunction with NSW and Victoria Police. Yesterday (Tuesday, 5 November 2024) a safe and other items stolen from the Florey Cultural Centre were located in Uriarra. The items were subjected to Forensic examination.
ACT Policing is pleased that money stolen from the two burglaries was recovered and has been returned to the Temple and Cultural Centre.
Earlier this week, Deputy Chief Police Officer Doug Boudry met with representatives of the ACT’s Hindu community to discuss strategies regarding security measures at their venues and to provide contact points for Gungahlin, Belconnen and Woden Police Stations where the ACT’s three Hindu Temples are situated.
Both the DCPO and community representatives committed to continue working together to boost community safety and develop community engagement opportunities for police with the Hindu community.
ACT Policing takes incidents such as this at places of worship very seriously. Temples, churches, synagogues and other gathering places are very important to many members of our community, and so we ask that those who live or work nearby to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to police on 131 444.