TACOMA, Wash. — For years, the Khmer Theravadin Buddhist temple has been a destination of peace and prayer.
The Cambodian-based temple has no security cameras, and no alarm system.
“We don’t believe in that kind of world," said one temple member.
On Thursday, Sept. 1, two armed robbers stole a month’s worth of donations, and they also stole the monks’ sense of peace and security in their place of worship.
Just after midnight, a custodian who lives at the temple followed the sounds of thumping into the area of the altar. Tacoma police say the robbers broke in through a bathroom window.
“He put a gun to my head and said “I’m not playing with you,” and he dragged me to the altar,” said the man, who asked not to be identified.
When the robbers were lifting donation boxes –which flanked the altar, filled with the entire month’s donations, one of three Cambodian monks walked into the temple.
“The (robber) put the gun to his head and said lay down, count to 100,” the custodian said.
Now, temple President Mon Meas told KIRO 7 there is no way they can pay their $1700 electric bill without the money.
“They say you have until the 22nd to pay,” said Meas, who worries the lights to the temple could be cut off.
There is a GoFundMe page to help the temple recover the loss, and pay the electric bill.
Cox Media Group
