Siddhivinayak Temple theft in Dombivli: Man caught on CCTV stealing from donation box
Synopsis
A man posing as a devotee used a glue-coated stick to steal cash from the Siddhivinayak Temple donation box in Dombivli MIDC — and was caught on CCTV before temple staff and a fellow worshipper detained him at 6:34 am. The arrest has reignited local demands for stronger police patrolling in the area.
Key Takeaways
A theft was reported at the Siddhivinayak Temple , Dombivli MIDC , Mumbai , on 15 May at approximately 6:34 am .
The accused allegedly used a glue-coated wooden stick to extract currency notes from the temple's donation box.
Temple treasurer Chandrashekhar Shinde and devotee Pandurang Ude caught the suspect before he could escape.
The accused was handed over to Manpada Police Station ; police are investigating possible links to similar past thefts.
Residents have urged authorities to increase patrolling in the Dombivli MIDC area following a rise in petty crimes.
A man was caught red-handed on Friday, 15 May while allegedly pilfering cash from the donation box at the Siddhivinayak Temple in the Dombivli MIDC residential area of Mumbai, according to police officials. The incident, recorded on CCTV cameras installed inside the temple, unfolded at approximately 6:34 am and was foiled by alert temple staff and a devotee present at the time.
How the Theft Unfolded
According to police sources, the accused entered the temple premises posing as a devotee arriving for morning prayers. After blending in for some time, he allegedly used a thin wooden stick coated with glue to extract currency notes from the donation box — a method designed to avoid drawing attention from those around him.
Police sources confirmed that the accused had already removed a considerable amount of cash from the box before being apprehended. Officials are currently questioning him to establish whether he was involved in similar theft incidents elsewhere in the locality.
Citizens Step In, Suspect Handed to Police
Temple authorities spotted the suspicious activity while reviewing CCTV footage. Chandrashekhar Shinde, the temple treasurer, and Pandurang Ude, a devotee who had come for early morning darshan, acted swiftly — confronting and detaining the accused before he could flee the premises.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to Manpada Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings. No formal charge details were immediately available.
Why This Temple Is a Sensitive Target
The Siddhivinayak Temple in Dombivli MIDC is a significant centre of faith for local residents, drawing large crowds — particularly during morning and evening prayer hours. The high footfall and the presence of donation boxes make such temples recurring targets for opportunistic theft across Maharashtra.
Notably, this incident adds to growing community concern over a pattern of petty theft and house break-ins reported in the Dombivli MIDC area in recent months.
Residents Demand Stronger Security
Following the arrest, local residents praised the alertness of Shinde and Ude for their prompt intervention. At the same time, community members expressed concern over the frequency of such incidents and urged the police administration to increase patrolling and reinforce security arrangements in the area to deter future crimes.
The Manpada Police are continuing their investigation to determine the full scope of the accused's alleged activities.
Point of View
Not impulse. What stopped him was not a security system but a treasurer and a fellow devotee. That gap between CCTV coverage and actual deterrence is the real story here. Across Maharashtra, temple donation boxes remain soft targets precisely because surveillance is reactive and physical security is thin. The Dombivli community's demand for more patrolling is reasonable, but unless police act on the investigation to map any wider pattern, this risks being treated as an isolated incident when it may not be.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Siddhivinayak Temple theft occur?
The theft took place at the Siddhivinayak Temple in the Dombivli MIDC residential area of Mumbai on 15 May. The temple is a prominent place of worship that draws large numbers of devotees every day.
How did the accused steal from the donation box?
According to police sources, the accused allegedly used a thin wooden stick coated with glue to pull currency notes out of the donation box without drawing attention. He had entered the temple disguised as a devotee coming for morning prayers.
Who caught the temple thief?
Temple treasurer Chandrashekhar Shinde and devotee Pandurang Ude, who had come for early morning darshan, spotted the accused after temple authorities reviewed CCTV footage and detained him before he could flee.
What action has been taken against the accused?
The accused was handed over to Manpada Police Station for investigation and legal proceedings. Police are questioning him to determine whether he was involved in similar theft incidents in the Dombivli MIDC area previously.
What are residents demanding after the incident?
Local residents have called on the police administration to increase patrolling and strengthen security in the Dombivli MIDC area, citing a rise in theft and house break-in incidents in the locality.
