The Adelaide Hindu community is appealing to the public for help after six sacred Hindu deities were stolen from the Adelaide Hindu Temple at Holden Hill earlier this month.
The statues were taken from the temple on Peat Avenue in the early hours of Monday, August 10th, with the community now asking for their safe return and urging anyone with information to come forward.
The theft is believed to have occurred between approximately 4am and 5am, when the deities were removed through the back door of the temple.
Some of the statues weigh between 150 and 200 kilograms, with a trolley believed to have been used to move them.
The theft was discovered at around 8am when a temple supervisor arrived, with the incident subsequently reported to South Australia Police.
The six deities taken were Brihaspati, Ketu, Shani (Sanischara), Bhairav, Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
For the Hindu community, the statues are sacred objects of worship, and the temple is now making an emotional appeal for their return.
The community is asking for the deities to be returned with “no questions asked.”
A prayer will also be held at the temple at 5pm today, Thursday, August 20th, for the sacred deities that were taken.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have information about the theft to come forward.
In particular, police want to hear from anyone who:
- Saw a van, ute, truck or unusual activity around Peat Avenue, Holden Hill, between approximately 4am and 9am on Monday, August 10th.
- Has CCTV or dashcam footage from the area during that timeframe.
- Has been offered large metal or stone religious statues for sale, or has seen similar statues at a scrap yard, storage facility, second-hand dealer or online marketplace.
Anyone with information is urged to contact South Australia Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Adelaide Hindu Temple, operated by Vedic Hindu Foundation Limited, is located at 4 Peat Avenue, Holden Hill SA 5088.
For more information, click here.
