Haliyal: Miscreants made away with ornaments worth Rs 7 lakh which adorned the idols of the deities at the temples in Karlkatta and Sambrani villages in Haliyal taluk recently. The miscreants even vandalised the idols to get the ornaments.

The series of thefts took place on July 13 midnight and came to light on July 14 (Sunday) when the Pujaris opened the door of the respective temples in the morning as routine. Case in this connection has been lodged with Haliyal Police who pressed a team of fingerprint experts and dog squad to work to get some clues for investigation.

It can be recalled that gold ornaments worth lakhs had been stolen from the temple in Sambrani on January 26, 2014, also.

Two months back, there was an attempt to theft at the temple in Karlkatta village, the villagers said.