HASSAN: A thief, who was carrying some equipment, broke into a masjid and stole a computer and Canon camera worth about Rs 3 lakh at Sharif Colony here late on Sunday night.
The thief came to Quba Masjid late at night waited for some time. He then entered by jumping over the gate, broke the lock of the main door of the masjid and tried to steal the treasury box. When he failed to open it, he broke the key to the office and went inside.
The entire activity of the thief was captured on a CCTV camera. As it was raining at night, Atiq Ur Rehman, a photographer for a leading newspaper, had left his camera in the mosque office while returning home. The thief escaped with that camera.
The masjid has been robbed thrice in the last three months. The police, dog squad, fingerprint analysts and forensic experts have visited and examined the place. The incident took place under Hassan Nagar police station limits.
Atiq ur Rehman, a local resident, “A few months ago, a thief tried to commit theft at the masjid and we complained to the police, but no arrests were made. Another theft occurred during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow. We have checked the CCTV footage and the same thief done this act for the second time. We have informed the police. The police department should take action”, he added.