{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Thief Bows Before Hanuman Idol, Then Breaks Into Temple and Finds Just Rs 170 in the Donation Box",
  "summary": "A thief bowed before the Hanuman idol at a Mira Road temple before breaking the lock and robbing the donation box, only to find just Rs 170 inside.",
  "content": "A theft caught on camera at a Hanuman temple in the Kashimira area of Mira Road, on the outskirts of Mumbai, has left devotees and locals stunned. Before robbing the donation box, the accused walked into the temple at Laxmibaug, bowed at the feet of the Hanuman idol, offered prayers for a few moments, and only then broke open the temple door to get to the cash.\n\nPrayers First, Then the Break-in\nThe entire incident was recorded by a CCTV camera installed inside the temple. The footage shows the accused standing in front of the idol like any ordinary devotee, folding his hands and praying with apparent devotion. Moments later, the same man breaks the lock on the temple door and heads straight for the donation box. The gap between his act of worship and the act of theft was barely a few minutes, and it is precisely that contrast, caught on camera, that has made the case so unusual.\n\nOnly Rs 170 Left in the Donation Box\nThe accused likely expected to find a sizeable sum inside the donation box, but luck was not on his side. Hours before the theft, the temple trust had already withdrawn most of the cash collected in the box, leaving behind just Rs 170. Despite coming prepared for the burglary, the accused walked away with only that amount before fleeing the scene.\n\nPolice Collect CCTV Footage, Register a Case\nAs soon as the theft came to light, Kashimira police reached the spot, carried out a panchnama at the scene and registered a case. Investigators are now working to identify the accused using the CCTV footage and other technical evidence. Police have described temple theft as a serious offence and said efforts are on to arrest the accused at the earliest. The unusual nature of the crime, a man praying before robbing the same shrine, has become the talk of the locality.\n\nDaylight Bike Theft From a Hospital in Washim\nIn a separate incident, a motorcycle was stolen in broad daylight from the Washim district general hospital. In a strange twist, the thief was already riding off with the bike when a policeman appeared from the opposite direction. He paused briefly, and the moment the policeman moved away, he sped off with the motorcycle. This incident, too, was captured on a CCTV camera installed on the hospital premises. The theft, carried out in a crowded area and despite the presence of a policeman nearby, has raised questions about both security arrangements and the lack of fear of the law among such offenders. Police are now working to trace the accused using the hospital's CCTV footage.\n\nA Similar Attempt Recently in Raigad\nNot long ago, in an area under the jurisdiction of the Pali police station in Raigad, Maharashtra, a thief broke into a building to carry out a robbery but ended up getting stuck on its rooftop. Police later had to rescue him from there. The latest temple theft has once again brought attention to the need for tighter security and surveillance at religious sites and public spaces such as hospitals.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: The incident is a reminder that temples and other religious sites need working CCTV cameras and stronger security, not just a lock and key, to protect donation boxes.\n• In Mira Bhayander: Devotees visiting the Laxmibaug temple in Kashimira may want to stay extra alert around the premises for now, since the accused is still at large and police are working off CCTV evidence.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where did the temple theft take place?\nIt happened at a Hanuman temple in Laxmibaug in the Kashimira area of Mira Road, near Mumbai.\n\n2. How much money was found in the donation box?\nOnly Rs 170 was found, because the temple trust had already withdrawn most of the cash a few hours before the theft.\n\n3. Has the accused been identified or arrested?\nPolice are trying to identify the accused using CCTV footage and technical evidence, but no arrest has been made yet.\n\n4. What happened in Washim?\nA motorcycle was stolen in broad daylight from the Washim district general hospital, an incident also captured on CCTV.\n\n5. Are the two thefts connected?\nNo, they are separate incidents from different districts that came to light around the same time.\n\n6. How did police respond to the temple theft?\nKashimira police reached the spot as soon as they were informed, carried out a panchnama and registered a case.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/maharashtra/puja-archana-ke-bada-mndira-men-sendha-danapeti-se-hatha-lage-sirpha-170-rupaye-7925",
  "category": "Maharashtra",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-15",
  "tags": [
    "Hanuman temple theft",
    "Mira Road",
    "Kashimira",
    "donation box theft",
    "Washim bike theft",
    "temple CCTV"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}