37-year-old Stefan Buzoianu and 27-year-old Artur Crudu have both been charged after allegedly breaking into multiple Hindu and Buddhist temples, as well as homes of congregation members, in Blaine and Carver County in Minnesota.
The two are suspected to be involved in similar burglaries across the greater Twin Cities area.
“Three of them were Hindu temples and nine of them Buddhist temples from various communities – from the Cambodian, Malawi and the Thai and the Hmong communities that at least I’m aware of,” said Shajive Jeganathan, president of Hindu Society of Minnesota, in an interview with MPR News. Police say 16 temples and homes in total were burglarized, which occurred earlier this year from May through July.
According to Maple Grove police, Buzoiano is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Freeborn County, Minnesota, while Crudu is held in Orange County, California. The two are charged with multiple burglary charges, including second-degree burglary of a religious establishment and second-degree burglary of a dwelling.
At least six law enforcement agencies from various jurisdictions have been involved with the investigation of the case. Multiple suspects in the thefts have been identified.
The burglaries also appear to have been planned in advance of the break in. At one Buddhist temple in St. Louis, the suspects allegedly scoped the area.
Theerapattarapop Phuangmala told CBS News that before a theft, three men arrived and said they would like to learn about meditation at Wat Promwachirayan, where Phuangmala is Vice Head of Monks.
Investigators also believe the thefts are part of a larger burglary ring operating throughout the United States. While it remains unclear, police records show the suspects were also wanted on warrants for similar crimes in Dallas-Fort Worth and Philadelphia — where religious temples have also been burglarized.
The overall estimated loss of the Minnesota temple and home thefts is more than $100,000. Mostly religious jewelry and cash were taken, including from Wat Promwachirayan’s donations, which the temple was going to spend on renovations.
Tejnarayan Mucherla, a Sri Saibaba Mandir temple member, spoke to MPR about the likelihood of recovering stolen items.
“We were told there is a slim chance we will get those other items back, because this is a bigger gang or racket, whatever you want to call, across multiple states. So we don’t even know if those exist, or they’re sold, or they were just sent out of the country,” Mucherla said.
So far the temple has recovered a beaded necklace, worth at least $15,000. Two other necklaces are still missing.
Carver County Sheriff’s Office say there may be unrecovered jewelry that is irreplaceable. However, law enforcement agencies continue to search for others involved in the thefts.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This holiday season, double your impact by making a tax-deductible donation to Asian American Media Inc and AsAmNews. Less than $5,000 remains in matching grant funds. Donate today to double your impact and bring us closer to our goal of $38,000 by year-end.
Please also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.
