Police are investigating a theft of 22 kg of silver articles and silk costumes from a temple at J J Nagar on Monday.
Sri Rajarajeswari Temple, where the heist occurred, was built around 25 years ago and housed several deities. Marriages were also regularly performed at the temple, sources said.
On Tuesday morning, priest Subramani and accountant Gopal unlocked the gate of the temple only to find the grill in the Rajarajeswari sannidhi broken open.
Similarly, the grill gates of the Karumariamman and Utsavar sannidhis had also been broken and the idols abandoned after ascertaining that they were made of copper and coated with silver, the sources said. Zeroing in on three steel almirahs, the burglar decamped with 22 kg of silver articles, silk costumes of the deities and `300 in cash.
Sources said a marriage was performed at the temple on Monday and lunch served on the first floor. The priests closed the temple and left around 8.30 pm.
Police, who recovered a glove and three steel rods used in the theft, suspect that the burglar mingled with the wedding crowd, hid himself inside the temple and later escaped through the terrace. J J Nagar police have registered a case.