Elderly nuns forced to break vow of silence to help police track down violent temple thieves
Two elderly nuns were forced to break their three-month vow of silence to help police hunt down two thugs allegedly involved in a cowardly crime.
The Buddhist nuns, both in their 80s, broke their vows long enough to give police a description of their alleged attackers.
CCTV captured footage of the crime, an assault and robbery, which has since been dubbed one of Sydney’s meanest.
Video shows two men strolling through the gates of the Wetherill Park temple on Monday night.
The men, who were wearing balaclavas and armed with knives, broke into the Chua Phuoc Hue temple on Victoria Street about 7.45pm while the nuns were in their sleeping quarters.
Police Superintendent Peter Lennon told 7 News their crime was “Cowardly, disgraceful, and completely disrespectful.”
One of the nuns, 88, was pushed to the floor by one of the offenders, who put his foot on top of her to hold her down, according to police.
The offenders then ransacked the temple, allegedly stealing money and an iPad before making their escape.
One of the nuns needed to be taken to hospital for treatment, however she was released on Tuesday morning.
Police claimed she suffered from bruising and both suffered shock.
7 News understands the two nuns were observing a vow of silence but were given permission to describe their attackers to police.
It’s understood the attackers were of Caucasian appearance.
Buddhism is a gentle religion that teaches that criminals should be treated with care and understanding.
However Karma, the idea that bad deeds cause future suffering, is something police were keen to explain to the attackers.
“We'll wait to hear what these two offenders have got to say in relation to their reasons for what they did when we arrest them - and we will arrest them,” Supt Lennon said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
