Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 31: On Friday January 30 morning, it was found that four donation boxes of Ucchila Sri Mahalakshmi Temple had been taken away by thieves.

The priest who came to the temple in the morning noticed the missing boxes and alerted the concerned. After a search was launched, the temple managing committee members found broken boxes with some coins in them, in the drain opposite temple.

The temple had been targeted by the thieves 15 years ago. This time around, the thieves entered the temple by scaling the high compound walls of the temple precincts. The loss is estimated to be about Rs 10,000.

The fact that the theft took place when a security guard posted at the temple for the night shift was on duty has surprised the local people. Carrying and opening of the boxes would have created lot of sound. If the guard was there, he should have come to know of the robbery, the people surmise.