Bhatkal: An unsuccessful burglary attempt has been made at Dandina Durga temple here on Koteshwar Road in the taluka. The thief broke a CCTV camera installed at the temple premises and fled the scene. The incident happened in the night around 1:30 AM, but came to light on Sunday morning.

CCTV records the entire operation, which begins at 1:34 AM in the midnight, with a thief roaming around the temple. Then he enters the temple by unlatching the backdoor. He then tries to break the box inside the temple, then takes a few steps back and turns off the light inside the temple. Further he tries to break open the box, and when he fails, he finds a chair nearby, through which he breaks a CCTV camera and escapes empty handed.

From the CCTV footage, police suspect he is a professional thief as he was seen wearing gloves on his hands, stockings on his feet, a mask over his face, and a raincoat. It seems that the thief already knew where the CCTV cameras have been installed, so he had entered the temple with full planning.

Locals said the temple had been robbed once before, with meat being thrown at the temple premises and blood splattered on the walls.

A case has been registered at Bhatkal Town Police Station and investigation is carried on.