Buddhist Temples Targeted in DFW, FBI Assistance Requested - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

North Texas constabulary officials are reaching retired to the FBI for assistance successful investigating a imaginable transgression ringing targeting Buddhist temples.

White Settlement constabulary are moving with section communities and respective different states that are reporting akin burglaries wrong temples. Members who worship astatine Buddhist temples crossed DFW accidental they are ineffable places, afloat of peace, unfastened to anyone, and wherever monks are readily disposable for those successful request of prayer.

Police fearfulness a transgression ringing is exploiting temples by faking involvement successful supplication and distracting monks to bargain money.

“I consciousness sad, you should travel present to pray, to beryllium bully to the people,” said subordinate Sulee Adams.

Adams said it happened astatine her temple connected White Settlement Road connected Nov. 20.

White Settlement constabulary shared surveillance video of astir 9 people, 1 antheral and 8 women, approaching the temple.

Several of the women appeared to beryllium wearing a headscarf that hid their faces.

A monk said the radical approached him and asked him to commune for their member who was successful the hospital.

“They bow to each the Buddha each implicit the gathering similar they truly respect,” said Adams.

As the monk prayed with immoderate of the group, constabulary accidental others broke into rooms connected the property, stealing a ample sum of money.

Adams said $38,000 was stolen. The wealth had been raised during caller festivities.

Police are trying to find whether the suspects knew temples would apt person currency connected manus due to the fact that of taste celebrations wherever donations are gathered.

“We’re going to enactment with the FBI due to the fact that we present judge this is not conscionable confined to Texas,” said White Settlement Chief of Police Chris Cook.

Cook said helium has received calls of akin thefts successful New Mexico, California and Arkansas.

The incidents look to impact the aforesaid suspects with akin stories and look to beryllium ‘diversionary thefts, helium said. Irving constabulary corroborate they are investigating a burglary that happened past Tuesday astatine a Buddhist temple connected Rosebud Drive.

Members of a Buddhist temple connected Marvin Brown Street successful Fort Worth archer NBC 5 they were deed connected Thanksgiving and person turned implicit surveillance video to police. FWPD did not respond to requests for information.

“We conscionable got disconnected the telephone with the Fort Worth Police Department,” said Cook. “The aforesaid van that was recovered successful our metropolis is the aforesaid van successful their offense.”

Cook said the suspects were traveling successful a metallic van that was aboriginal ditched successful the city. The van had been stolen retired of Dallas and had fictitious insubstantial plates retired of Colorado connected it, helium added. The suspects are not believed to beryllium locals but Cook said his section is moving connected releasing a bulletin for agencies crossed the portion successful hopes of catching the suspects.

Cook is urging different communities with Buddhist temples to beryllium connected alert and to not person ample amounts of currency connected the premises if possible.