The Carapo Hindu Temple which was robbed twice last week has lost at least $5,000 in valuables. The thieves even had a feast of corned beef and bread after cooking the corned beef in a pot used at the temple, said a member of the temple executive, Stephen Sookram.
"They used the pots in our kitchen and prepared it on the stove and had it right here. Corned beef is something we Hindus don’t use at all. We are sad they would do something like that," Sookram said.
He said they also tried to take off the LED lights that were installed above the stage. "Apparently, they could not remove them, and so they disconnected the wires. When we returned this morning (Saturday) another door was smashed in, and they got in again and took another two ring stoves."
Temple elder Stephen Sookram shows Guardian Media Limited a piece of costume jewelry removed from one of the Murtis at the Carapo Shiv Mandir yesterday.
AKASH SAMAROO
Sookram said on Sunday they had their usual devotions. They cleaned up and secured the temple before leaving. "We decided to have something today (Saturday) for the mothers, as tomorrow (Sunday) is Mother’s Day."
He said they returned on Friday evening and on entering the southern entrance, he saw the door smashed in. "That put a depressed spirit on everything," he told CNC3 yesterday.
He said the thieves took five gas tanks, a ring stove, microwave, kettle and a small radio.
Sookram also said in 2018 there was another break-in, but it was not as bad as this time.
Sookram said he was "saddened". "All I can say is that there is a God and karma comes back to haunt you."
The police are continuing investigations, Sookram said.