Brooklyn Buddhist temple ransacked during armed robbery
FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Police in Brooklyn are searching for the thieves who robbed a Buddhist temple in Brooklyn.
Authorities say three masked men entered the Cambodian temple on Rugby Road on Sunday afternoon, and one of them flashed a gun.
Four monks were inside eating lunch at the time. The thieves forced them into a room and ransacked the temple, taking cellphones and cash from a donation box, before running away.
The monks were not hurt.
"We have to live peacefully, help other people and make other people happy is better, this is our way," said monk Sutaea Kong.
Kong wasn't there at the time, but he came to check on his fellow monks, and says, their attitude a day later is one of forgiveness.
"We wish them to change their mind and never do this again whichever, whenever they don't do this with other people, I hope this is the last for them because destroying other people is not good," Kong said.
The temple has been serving the community for more than 35 years and plans to keep welcoming people in, despite what happened
Police are still searching for the suspects. Authorities say it is not being investigated as a bias crime.
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