Dublin Hindu Temple Burglarized Amid Rising Trend of Attacks on California Bay Area Religious Sites

The Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple in Dublin was burglarized early Sunday morning, with thieves stealing approximately $34,000 in cash and jewelry, according to Dublin Police Services.

The break-in occurred around 4:40 a.m. at the temple located at 6930 Village Parkway, police said Monday. As of Monday afternoon, investigators said there is no evidence to indicate the burglary was motivated by religious prejudice.

Dublin police described the investigation as active and declined to release additional details. The temple has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The temple serves as a significant spiritual center for the local Hindu community, offering religious services, classes, and community action groups. It is known for housing a nine-foot statue of Panchamukha Hanuman, a five-headed monkey divinity revered in Hindu tradition.

The Dublin incident adds to a troubling pattern of criminal activity targeting Hindu temples and Indian American communities across the Bay Area. According to tracking by advocacy organizations and law enforcement, multiple Hindu religious sites have been targeted in recent years.

In January 2024, the same Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple in Dublin was previously targeted, according to records from Hindu advocacy groups tracking incidents against religious institutions.

Three Hindu temples were targeted in quick succession in the Bay Area region, leaving members of the community in shock. The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward was vandalised with anti-India and pro-Khalistan graffiti, according to Clarion India reporting from January 2024.

“Community members are reaching out, asking, ‘Is it safe to go to the temple?’ This is supposed to be safe place where you go to pray and get peace of mind.”

A spree of vandalism at Hindu temples in the San Francisco Bay Area has put the local Hindu community on edge, reported Ethnic Media Services in May 2024.

“The incidents point to a clear trend of anti-Hindu hate crimes,” said Ramya Ramakrishnan of the Hindu American Foundation. “Community members are reaching out, asking, ‘Is it safe to go to the temple?’ This is supposed to be safe place where you go to pray and get peace of mind.”

The concerns have reached federal lawmakers, with Hindu advocates saying the trend of temple vandalism points to a lack of an adequate response from law enforcement, which they blame on anti-Hindu bias, as reported by Religion News Service.

Recent incidents have prompted congressional attention. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi visited a burglarized Hindu temple in Santa Clara after burglars targeted the temple on August 28 and stole its donation box and other ornaments. This was the second burglary at the temple after a similar incident in January 2024.

Broader Context of Hate Crimes

California Hindus and Sikhs reported record numbers of hate crimes as tensions in India escalated and as state lawmakers weighed a caste discrimination bill, according to CalMatters reporting from September 2024.

“These attacks are not isolated incidents but rather indicative of a distressing trend targeting Hindu institutions and individuals solely based on their religious identity. While our temples have bolstered security measures, we cannot confront this issue in isolation,” stated a letter to the editor in the San Mateo Daily Journal from March 2024.

Dublin Police Services is asking anyone with information about the Sunday morning burglary to contact them at 925-833-6670.

The temple continues to operate its regular schedule, which includes morning and evening prayer services seven days a week. According to its Yelp listing, the temple maintains hours from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended weekend hours.

While police have stated there’s no evidence of religious motivation in this specific incident, the timing comes as Hindu American communities nationwide have expressed growing concerns about security at their places of worship.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not released any suspect descriptions or surveillance footage details.