SUNGAI SIPUT: Three mosques around the district were broken into on Tuesday night with the suspects not only making away with the donation boxes but also CCTV.
A pillar and whiteboard in one of the mosques was also defaced with vulgarity.
The mosques involved were Masjid Ijtihadiah, Kampung Simpang Temin; Masjid Ar Rahmaniah, Felda Lasah and a mosque in Kampung Perlop Dua, near here. The break-ins occurred between 11pm and 5.30am.
Masjid Ijtihadiah official, Ismail Abd Rani, 64, said he realised what had happened when he arrived at the mosque at 6am.
"A few notices were torn out and even more shocking were the vulgarities written. I hope whoever did this repents. "
Masjid Ar Rahmaniah secretary, Hamzah Mat Ali, 52, said based on the CCTV, three men entered the mosque compound at around 3.22pm.
"They entered through the back door and only then did they realise there was a CCTV in the mosque.
"They then hid behind a pillar before pulling out a few CCTV cameras."
Sungai Siput District police chief , Superintendant Rozeni Ismail confirmed the incident and said reports had been made.
"Following that, an operation was carried out and 11 men believed to be drug addicts were detained.
Based on their statements, police managed to identify one of the suspects.