Willesden and Harrow temple raids: Police name man wanted in connection with religious burglaries

The police have named a man they are looking to question over the shocking theft of priceless Hindu ornaments from two Brent temples.

The Shree Swaminarayan Temple on Willesden Lane and the Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple (SKSS) Temple on Westfield Lane in Harrow were burgled within five days of each other earlier this month.

Investigating officers urgently want to speak to Dannie O’Leary, 24. about the crimes – which both saw a suspect in dark clothes break-in through a glass door before making off with religious items and donation money.

The Willesden temple was raided in the early hours of November 8, with the second incident in Harrow taking place on November 13.

Police believe the crimes are linked.

The Shree Swaminarayan Temple saw several religious idols stolen which have an “emotional and spiritual significance for worshippers”.

Det Con Pete Wallace, from Harrow CID, said: “I want to reassure our Hindu and Sikh communities, as well as all of the religious communities in Harrow and Brent, that we take offences such as this very seriously and are doing everything we can to trace the suspect. Such behaviour will not be tolerated.

“We urge anyone who knows of O’Leary’s whereabouts to contact police or for O’Leary to hand himself in.”

Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to call 101 quoting 505/9 Nov for the first incident and 2580/13NOV18 for the second.