Ludhiana: A brazen thief was captured on security cameras praying to a temple deity before breaking open the donation box and stealing the cash inside. The incident occurred at a temple in Ludhiana's Prem Nagar area during the afternoon, with the thief timing the heist to coincide with the priest's lunch break.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed that the suspect entered the premises while several devotees were still present. He loitered around the temple, waiting for the crowd to clear. Once alone, the man approached the idols, bowed with folded hands in prayer, and then forced open the cash collection box.
The thief stuffed the stolen money into his trouser pockets before fleeing the scene. Exterior security cameras later filmed the man as he casually counted the cash while walking down a nearby street.
The theft was discovered when the temple priest returned from his home, located a short distance away, and found the broken cash box. Division Number 2 police confirmed that they are reviewing the security footage to identify and trace the suspect. Temple authorities have not yet assessed the exact amount of cash stolen.
