Hundreds Of Dollars Stolen From Donation Boxes Inside Davis Mosque
DAVIS (CBS13) – A man broke into a mosque in Davis on Tuesday and stole hundreds of dollars in donations. His actions were caught on camera.
Davis police say the broke into the Islamic Center of Davis Center at 539 Russell Boulevard and got away with up to $1,000 in donations. The mosque has been the target of vandals and thieves in the past, which is why they now have surveillance cameras. This burglar was seen trying doors and windows before he found a way inside.
"Doing it at a place of worship is just awful," said Nadia Abdelnur, who attends the center.
"He opened the window," said Rameen Jaffar.
Surveillance cameras caught the man walking along the exterior of the building before finding the unlocked window. He then went back to his car that parked nearby.
"He got a backpack and then he just kind of jumped into the window," said Jaffar.
Jaffar believes the backpack contained tools, which the suspect used to rip open the donation boxes. Jaffar allowed us to go inside and see the damage.
"They broke into this prayer hall as well, and then broke into these boxes as well," said Jaffar
The boxes, which are all around the center, held money that goes to the mosque's general fund, different charities, needy families and Sunday school.
The mosque is already struggling financially, and this crime, they say, will definitely hurt them and those they help.
"All the money goes to good things, and obviously, the operation and for charity. But for someone to do that is just awful," said Abdelnur.
"I'm sorry to see someone break in," said Jaffar.
Jaffa's message to the burglar is there's no need to steal, especially from those willing to help.
"If they needed the help and they approached us, we would be more than happy to kind of give them that kind of help," he said.
The burglar is described as a white or Hispanic male, about 5' 10" tall, and weighing between 160 pounds and 175 pounds.
He was last seen wearing a dark-colored baseball hat with sunglasses on top, a light colored sweatshirt, blue jeans, white shoes with black laces, and a black backpack.
His car is described as a white, four-door sedan.
