'PROLIFIC OFFENDER': Man, 42, wanted for stealing cash from Scarborough temples
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A 42-year-old man who was previously called “a prolific offender” by cops in Peel Region is wanted once again for allegedly stealing cash from donation boxes at religious temples — this time in Scarborough.
Toronto Police say the first of the two latest thefts occurred near Birchmount Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E. just after 7:30 a.m. on March 6.
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A man allegedly broke into a religious temple, stole the money within a donation box, and then fled the area, Det.-Const. Samantha Jackson said in a statement released Wednesday.
Less than two weeks later, on March 18, she said the same man is believed to have broken into another religious temple near Warden Ave. and Ellesmere Rd. around 1:40 a.m.
Once again, Jackson said the man allegedly stole money from a donation box and fled the area.
Investigators have now identified a suspect in the break-and-enters — a man who has been charged repeatedly for similar thefts from temples across the GTA in recent years.
Jagdish Pandher, of no fixed address, is wanted on four counts of break-and-enter commit; two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; two counts of having face masked or disguised; three counts of breaching his probation; one count of failure to attend court, one count of failure to attend for fingerprinting; and one count of possession of a forged document.
The outcome of those charges, which date back to March 2022, is unknown.
Police have maintained in the past that while the break-ins targetted places of worship — often Hindu temples — the thefts are not thought to be motivated by hate.
Investigators have released an image of the suspect — described as 5-foot-6 with a medium build — hoping members of the public can help locate him.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts, or this investigation, is urged to call police at 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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