Two temples targeted by criminals posing as police

Police are investigating two incidents yesterday where robbers posing as police targeted temples.

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said in the first incident which occurred last afternoon, two persons claiming to be from the Colombo Crime Division had arrived at a temple in Kataragama town. They had fled after taking a valuable Buddha statue that was at the temple as well as the mobile phone of the temple's chief incumbent.

In the second incident, which occurred last night, several persons had shown up at a temple in Pathegama, Balapitiya, claiming to be officers from an investigation division in the Western Province and attempted to rob cash from a monk at the temple. They had fled after the attempt failed.

The incidents show that there is a trend of certain organized criminal gangs carrying out robberies while posing as officers from various investigation agencies of the police, DIG Rohana stated. He appealed to the public to be vigilent of such attempts, especially if people claiming to be police show up in civvies and civilian vehicles. He added that members of the public have a right to request those claiming to be police officers to show their identification cards before letting them into their premises.