Devotees of two Hindu temples in Canberra are in shock after burglars stole about $12,000 in cash across both locations and desecrated divine idols on Saturday afternoon.
Thieves hit temples in Belconnen and Woden Valley within the same hour on October 26.
The two incidents unfolded in an identical manner where four masked men arrived in a black van, broke doors to the temples to steal donation boxes and safes containing cash.
At Florey's Hindu temple and cultural centre the group stole five transparent donation boxes and a safe with at least $6000 inside about 2.30pm on Saturday.
It was the third time thieves had targeted the site this year, president of the non-profit organisation Lakhan Sharma told The Canberra Times.
"They didn't make too much noise ... that's why the people who were working in the hall didn't even know that somebody was there in the [temple area]," he said.
"This is the seventh or the eighth burglary in our temple in the last two years."
Security camera footage shows the black Hyundai Trajet parking near the eastern side of the building.
One person is seen exiting the vehicle and opening the boot of the vehicle to let out two other men, one of them appeared to put on a hoodie and shoes.
ACT police said the vehicle had Victorian licence plates - 1EA2AZ.
The group is seen to force open locked doors before walking in and collecting donation boxes placed in different spots inside the temple.
Three men appear to break open a wooden box covering a safe weighing about 300kg.
As the group struggled to carry the heavy safe, one of the men was seen running out to bring a wheelbarrow left nearby to help move the safe into the SUV.
Mr Sharma said their security alarm was disarmed because there were volunteers working in another room when the men broke in.
He said donation boxes were recently emptied by temple volunteers, but two festivals this week had attracted hundreds of people and filled them up.
The repeated thefts were a blow to the community which was trying to repay a "massive" loan upwards of $700,000 used to build a new hall next door, secretary Akshay Gupta said
Mr Sharma also said they spent at least $10,000 to repair glass windows and doors broken during burglaries in January.
Temple goers were anxious, the president added.
"[Bad] timing... with Deepavali just around the corner," he said.
"[Devotees] have a fear in them as well saying 'What would happen if I come during the day, somebody is here and I get caught [up] in the burglary?'
"It doesn't give us enough confidence to instil in people."
About 30 minutes before the incident at Florey, the group had allegedly burgled and vandalised the Vishnu Shiva Mandir (temple) on Mawson Drive.
The resident priest Pandit Jaisankar said he had closed the temple at 1pm and was resting in his quarters when the thieves entered the temple.
The men allegedly uprooted the front desk reception area, took $500 and a locker containing an unknown sum of money.
"Everyone was worried because I live here by myself," Mr Jaisankar said.
"People are very disturbed. The big problem is that the burglary happened during the day."
Temple volunteer Ranga Tiruman described the incident captured on security cameras and estimated the temple had lost between $5000-$6000.
He alleged the group was armed with a hammer and sickle and broke donation boxes on either side of the temple, broke idols, and other temple property trying to find more cash.
"Simultaneous attacks on two temples in Canberra has caused a huge outrage," Mr Tiruman said.
"Apart from the money boxes taken, the extent of the vandalism and disrespect in the inner sanctum of the temples is [a] matter of grave concern."
Sanjay Bhosale from the Canberra India Council said the "senseless attacks" were hard to fathom and went against everything members loved about the ACT.
"The Hindu community is shocked beyond words, with these attacks coming at the start of Diwali celebrations. The desecration of our sacred places of worship and the destruction of our idols is shocking and disgraceful," he said.
"We hope the perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly."
ACT Policing officers urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
People were asked to quote reference number 7884413 (Mawson) or 7884462 (Florey). Police said information could be provided anonymously.
