3 youths caught stealing donations from Penang temple
Three youths in Penang, Malaysia, allegedly drove into a temple in broad daylight to steal donation money, prompting the temple management to lodge a police report.
According to Oriental Daily, the incident last Thursday (11 Sept) afternoon at Simpah Guan Yin Ting Dou Mu Gong in the city of Butterworth.
CCTV footage reviewed by the temple showed three suspects arriving in a white sedan.
Source: 北海新芭觀音亭斗母宫 on Facebook
One of them, carrying a backpack, then entered the temple. While initially appearing to donate money, he extends a sticky tool to fish out cash from the donation box.
1 steal donations, while other 2 on lookout & standby near temple
Meanwhile, the other two acted as accomplices — one pretended to feed fish nearby and keep watch while the last individual waited in the car.
Source: 北海新芭觀音亭斗母宫 on Facebook
A temple staff member told the media that the group quickly fled the scene after realising that their scheme had been exposed.
Source: 北海新芭觀音亭斗母宫 on Facebook
He also said the trio’s well-coordinated actions suggested that the crime was premeditated.
Similar theft previously occurred in August
The temple staff member also shared that the temple had fallen victim to a similar theft just last month.
The inner basket within a donation box was found to be tampered with during checks by a temple staff member. CCTV footage later confirmed that the donation money had been stolen.
The temple has since handed CCTV footage to the police for investigation. It also shared videos on social media to alert other temples to step up security measures.
After the two thefts, the temple’s managing committee has increased patrols on temple grounds.
Also read: Man in M’sia steals 12 statues from Chinese temple & tosses them into the sea
Man in M’sia steals 12 statues from Chinese temple & tosses them into the sea
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Featured image adapted from 北海新芭觀音亭斗母宫 on Facebook.
