One incident in Wheaton-Glenmont, Maryland, involved three men stealing thousands of dollars from a Buddhist temple. The theft occurred as people were inside preparing lunch for the monks. The men were caught on video surveillance, with one man scoping out the temple before returning with two others to steal a safe containing $20,000. The stolen money was used for temple expenses and preparations for the Thai New Year celebration. The monk, known as Monk Jack, expressed sadness over the theft and stated that the money came from donations by temple members.
Another recent incident involved the burglary of a mosque in Germantown by three men, with surveillance photos suggesting they may be the same individuals who targeted the Buddhist temple. Monk Jack mentioned that this group of thieves has targeted numerous temples across the country, including locations in California, Texas, and Virginia. Despite law enforcement not catching them yet, Monk Jack believes that karma will eventually catch up to the thieves and urged them to stop causing suffering to others through their actions. The thieves not only stole money but also took Monk Jack’s personal identification documents.
The theft at the Buddhist temple took only about 15 minutes to complete. Monk Jack emphasized that the stolen money was meant to support temple activities and help with celebrations, emphasizing the impact of such crimes on the community. The surveillance footage from the incident was shared with the public in hopes of identifying the thieves and preventing further crimes. Despite reaching out to the Montgomery County Department of Police for more information, no response was received at the time of publication. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
In response to these incidents, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC, initiated an effort to keep restaurants open later during Ramadan, aiming to enhance safety and security during the holy month. As the community comes together to support one another during times of need, it is important to remain diligent and watch out for potential criminal activity. Both the Buddhist temple and the mosque faced challenges due to thefts, highlighting the vulnerability of religious institutions and the importance of protecting sacred spaces. By raising awareness and working together, communities can take steps to prevent future crimes and ensure the safety of their members. Despite the setbacks caused by thefts, the temples and mosques affected continue to serve their communities and provide support to those in need.
