Man sought after three Durham Region religious temples broken into in two hours

Article content

The hunt is on for a man who broke into several religious temples in Durham Region and stole cash early Sunday.

Durham Regional Police say officers first responded to “a break-and-enter in progress” at a Pickering religious temple near Bayly St. and Krosno Blvd. – east of Liverpool Rd. – around 12:45 a.m.

“A male was seen on security surveillance making entry into the temple and taking a large quantity of cash from the donation boxes,” Const. Nicholas Gluckstein said Wednesday, adding the crook took off before officers arrived.

He said police then responded to a second break-and-enter in progress at a religious temple near Brock Rd. and Dersan St. – north of Rossland Rd. W. – in Pickering around 1:30 a.m.

“A resident of the temple reported that a male had broken through a window and attempted to steal a safe, which contained donated cash,” Gluckstein said. “The male was unsuccessful and fled prior to police arrival.”

He said officers reviewed security camera footage and determined it was the same man involved in the earlier break-and-enter.

The man then broke into a religious temple near Westney Rd. S. and Bayly St. W. in Ajax around 2:50 a.m., Gluckstein said.

“The male stole a large quantity of cash from a donation box,” he said.

Investigators have released security camera images of a suspect hoping the public can help identify him.

He is described as 5-foot-9 and about 200 pounds, and was wearing a blue surgical mask, black puffy jacket with tightly-zipped hood, green camouflage cargo pants, and green running shoes.

“The male was observed walking with a limp,” Gluckstein noted.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 2535, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

cdoucette@postmedia.com

@sundoucette

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video