Suspect sought after 3 temple break-ins in Durham Region
Posted October 11, 2023 12:14 pm.
Last Updated October 11, 2023 12:19 pm.
Police are searching for a suspect after three religious temples were broken into in Durham Region over the weekend.
Investigators say the first incident happened around 12:45 a.m. Sunday at a temple in the area of Bayly Street and Liverpool Road in Pickering. Investigators say a man was seen on security footage breaking into the building and taking a large amount of cash from donation boxes.
A short time later, around 1:30 a.m., it is alleged another temple was broken into near Brock and Rossland roads in Pickering. A resident of the temple reportedly told police that a male suspect broke-in through a window and tried to steal a safe full of donated cash.
Police say the suspect was unable steal the safe and fled the area before officers arrived. After reviewing surveillance video investigators were able to determine it was the same suspect who committed the earlier break-in.
It is alleged the same man broke into a third temple in the area of Westney Road and Bayly Street in Ajax around 2:50 a.m. The suspect made off with a large amount of cash from a donation box.
The suspect is described as five-feet-nine inches tall and around 200 lbs. He was last seen wearing a blue surgical mask, black “poofy” jacket with a tightly zipped hood, green “camo” cargo pants and green running shoes.
Police say he was seen walking with a limp.
Anyone with additional information is being asked to contact police.
