South Australia Police are investigating the theft of six sacred marble Hindu deity statues from a temple in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs, an incident that has deeply concerned members of the local Hindu community. The statues were stolen during a break-in at the Adelaide Hindu Temple on Peat Avenue, Holden Hill, shortly before 5am on Monday, 10 August 2026.

According to police, an unknown person gained entry to the temple and stole six marble statues, while damage was also caused to the premises during the break-in. Holden Hill police are continuing their investigation and are seeking information that could help identify those responsible and locate the stolen deities. The sacred murtis are understood to hold significant religious, cultural and financial value for the Hindu community.

Some of the statues are extremely heavy, reportedly weighing between 150 and 200 kilograms, raising questions about how they were removed from the temple and whether more than one person or a suitable vehicle may have been involved. The theft has caused distress among devotees, for whom the murtis are not simply decorative statues but sacred representations used in worship and religious observances. The temple community has appealed for their safe return and is urging anyone who may have seen the statues, or who comes across similar large marble Hindu deities being offered for sale, to contact authorities.

South Australia Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around the temple at the time of the break-in, or who has information about the whereabouts of the stolen statues, to come forward. Members of the public who may have relevant CCTV or dashcam footage from the Holden Hill area are also encouraged to review their recordings.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.

The investigation remains ongoing. Indus Age urges anyone with information that could assist police in recovering the sacred murtis to come forward.

Source: South Australia Police / community reports