Crime & Safety

Melville Hindu Temple Property Spray-Painted; 3 Wanted For Hate Crime: Police

Two people spray-painted a sign and pavement at the entrance of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir while a driver waited, police say.

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People are wanted for vandalizing BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a temple in Melville, on Sept. 16, Suffolk police said.
People are wanted for vandalizing BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a temple in Melville, on Sept. 16, Suffolk police said. (Courtesy of Suffolk County Crime Stoppers)

MELVILLE, NY — Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is seeking the public's help finding the people who, police said, damaged property at a Melville temple.

Two people spray-painted a sign and pavement at the entrance of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir, a Hindu temple located at 2 Deshon Drive, on Sept. 16 between midnight and 12:30 a.m., police said. A third person waited in a dark-colored pickup truck, police said. They are wanted for criminal mischief as a hate crime.

People are wanted for vandalizing BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a temple in Melville, on Sept. 16, Suffolk police said. (Courtesy of Suffolk County Crime Stoppers)

Police ask anyone with information to reach Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and leave an anonymous tip via phone call at 1-800-220-TIPS, using a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. A cash reward is offered for information that leads to an arrest.

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