Leong San Buddhist Temple said it has deployed more volunteers to patrol its premises during off-peak hours. - LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Installing tamper-proof locks on donation boxes and hiring security personnel are among the precautions some places of worship have taken in the wake of a string of thefts from Catholic churches, mosques and Taoist temples.
The police told The Straits Times that 11 police reports were made over thefts at places of worship in the first six months of 2023. This was more than double the number during the corresponding period in 2022.
The figure includes cases of stealing from places of worship, and people stealing from one another at these locations. The police did not say how many cases involved stealing from donation boxes at places of worship.
The Methodist Church in Singapore has increased security measures at its 46 churches by deploying paid security personnel to guard some of their premises. Its staff also undergo a security enhancement programme called Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System, which teaches them how to be on the lookout for possible threats.
Donation boxes are removed immediately after each service to reduce opportunities for theft.
Dr Anthony Goh, chairman of the council on communications for the Methodist Church, said it has encouraged volunteers to watch out for suspicious behaviour during weekend services, and urged churchgoers to opt for cashless donations.
He added: “Since the pandemic, our church congregations have been encouraged to make offerings via electronic means, and this has further reduced opportunities for pilferage.”
Leong San Buddhist Temple said it has deployed more volunteers to patrol its premises during off-peak hours.
It has also adjusted the position of several closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to face its donation boxes directly.
To prevent thieves from stealing from the boxes, the Race Course Road temple has also bolted them to the ground and equipped them with tamper-proof locks, said temple administrator Glenn Soh.
Donation boxes at all four temples under the Hindu Endowments Board also make use of CCTV surveillance round the clock to deter theft, said its chief executive officer T. Raja Segar. Most donation boxes have two or three locks, with keys kept in the office safe, which is accessible only by office bearers.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said donation boxes at mosques are numbered, labelled and secured properly to hinder the removal of the boxes, or the cash kept in them.
Cash from donation boxes is counted at frequent intervals, recorded in the mosque’s accounting system and deposited into the mosque’s bank accounts, said a Muis spokesman.
Earlier in September, three men were charged with stealing an unknown amount of cash from donation boxes at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Separately, Hoon Sian Keng temple in Changi Road said it would change the locks on its doors after two thieves stole “thousands” from donation boxes in the early hours of Sept 2.
Soh said that while Leong San Buddhist Temple takes such thefts seriously, it believes in giving offenders a second chance. For instance, in July, a thief stole cash from the temple’s donation boxes. Upon viewing the temple’s CCTV records, temple members confronted the culprit and issued him a stern warning, opting not to make a police report.
“As a Buddhist temple, we believe in compassion and forgiveness. We understand that people may steal for a variety of reasons such as poverty, desperation or addiction,” said Soh.
“We also understand that stealing from a religious institution can have a deep impact on the community.”
Thian Hock Keng, one of the oldest Hokkien temples here, encouraged those dealing with financial stress to reach out for help. Its spokesman said: “Temples are places of worship which promote good virtues and the righteous path.
“We urge anyone who is in financial distress to seek help and not to resort to unlawful means.”
