Sri Saibaba Mandir in Chaska was burglarized in May 2024; two men captured on surveillance video stole about $20,000 worth of sacred 24-karat gold necklaces. Part of the same Twin Cities temple theft ring.
Temple Incident Details
- Temple / sacred site
- Not recorded
- Tradition / sampradaya
- Not recorded
- Incident type
- Burglary / Theft
- Damage type
- Break-in / forced entry
- Was anyone inside?
- Unknown
- Investigation status
- Charges Filed
- Law-enforcement agency
- Twin Cities multi-jurisdictional police investigation
- Last updated
- 2026-10-03
Property damage
Approx. $20,000 worth of sacred 24-karat gold necklaces stolen.
Murtis / sacred objects affected
Sacred 24-karat gold necklaces (religious items) stolen from the temple.
What Happened
In mid-afternoon in May 2024, surveillance video inside Sri Saibaba Mandir in Chaska captured two individuals inside the Hindu temple. The men left with approximately $20,000 worth of sacred 24-karat gold necklaces and appeared to gesture toward the temple camera before leaving. Temple committee member Tej Mucherla said the burglary appeared pre-staged: "They knew exactly what they were doing, where they were going." The temple was one of at least three Hindu temples and numerous Buddhist temples burglarized in the Twin Cities between May and July 2024 by a ring police say operated nationally.
Evidence Concerning Targeting or Motive
No specific evidence of motive has been recorded. A perpetrator's religion is never treated as evidence of motive.
Casualties / Displacement
- Fatalities
- Unknown
- Injuries
- Unknown
- Displaced
- Unknown
Where credible sources differ, the archive shows confirmed figures and reported estimates separately rather than a single exact number.
Investigation / Accountability
Responsible actor (as documented)
Same two suspects charged in the wider case: Stefan Buzoianu and Artur Crudu, linked by police to a national temple theft ring.
Investigation
Multi-jurisdictional investigation by Twin Cities police agencies; Chaska temple burglary confirmed among the incidents.
Prosecution / court outcome
Buzoianu was charged in connection to burglaries including the Chaska temple; he was deported to Romania in October 2024. Crudu remained in custody in California.
Sources
Primary sources
- 2 charged after Twin Cities Buddhist, Hindu temples hit by national theft ring — Nicole Ki, MPR News, 2024-10-15Contemporaneous News Reportnews
- Authorities investigating string of Buddhist, Hindu temple thefts — Jason Rantala, CBS Minnesota (WCCO), 2024-08-16Contemporaneous News Reportnews
- Two charged in connection to Twin Cities temple thefts, police say — Jason Rantala, CBS Minnesota (WCCO), 2024-10-14Contemporaneous News Reportnews
- Man charged in burglaries of Twin Cities Hindu, Buddhist temples is deported — Nicole Ki, MPR News, 2024-10-24Contemporaneous News Reportnews
Methodology
This record distinguishes documented facts from allegations, estimates and disputed interpretations, and may be revised as reliable evidence emerges. Read our research methodology.