Mosques repeatedly hit by thieves; council releases CCTV footage

Male’ City Council has released CCTV footage of a man stealing from a mosque in Male’, amid a rise in such thefts targeting mosques across the Maldivian capital.

A video shared by the city council on Sunday morning shows a man steal a stand fan from Masjid al-Thaqwaa, in Henveiru district of Male’.

The theft was caught on a CCTV camera at around 10:00 pm on Wednesday, March 27.

According to the city council, seven fans were stolen from Masjid al-Thaqwaa over the course of three nights.

We have shared this video footage with the police, added the council.

ތިން ރޭ މަތިން ތަޤުވާ މިސްކިތުން ވަނީ 7 ފަންކާ ވަގަށް ނަގާފައި، މި ވީޑިއޯ ފުޓޭޖް މިހާރު ވަނީ ފުލުހުންނާއި ހިއްސާ ކުރެވިފައި. pic.twitter.com/0mfl5CwcOp

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) March 31, 2024

The police have not said whether they have identified the suspect.

Reports of thefts from mosques have increased this Ramadan. On Saturday night, thieves stole a water meter from Dharumavantha Mosque. It marked the second time for the mosque to be hit within the span of a week. On March 24, thieves took two fans installed on the walls of the mosque.

And on March 18, vandals damaged the water taps and toilets in the women’s wudu areas of Bandaara Mosque and Masjid Al-Sultan Muhammad Bin Abdullah (Viyafaariveringe Mosque).

While rare, acts of vandalism targeting mosques have taken place in the past. Though mosques have CCTV cameras, it has proved an ineffective deterrent against such crimes.