Siddipet Rural police arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with a series of alleged temple thefts in villages under the police station limits and seized stolen temple bells, a scooter and a wrench allegedly used to break locks and remove the bells.The accused, Aasa Sudarshan, a driver from Rajakkapeta in Dubbaka mandal, was apprehended on September 5 while allegedly waiting to commit another theft at the Yellamma temple in Burugupalli, Siddipet Rural Circle.According to the police, Sudarshan had a history of involvement in motorcycle theft cases in various districts and had been jailed several times. Police said he had recently been working as a water tanker driver in Hyderabad but suffered a fracture to his right leg in an accident. After being left without steady employment and needing money, he allegedly targeted temples in rural areas where security was comparatively lax.Police said that on September 1, Sudarshan travelled on a black scooter to the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Nancharupalli village and allegedly stole two bells. He later went to the Irukodu Yellamma temple, where he allegedly used a wrench to remove the large and small bells and the hundi. He allegedly broke open the hundi, took the cash and discarded the box in agricultural fields.The stolen bells were allegedly sold at a scrap shop near Ponnala in Siddipet. On the night of September 4, he allegedly stole three bells from the Raghavapur Yellamma temple and two bells from the Yellamma temple in Badanakal in Mustabad mandal. After wandering around until morning, he allegedly sold the bells at a scrap shop at Rangadhampalli crossroads on September 5.Police said the stolen items were recovered within a few hours of the latest theft. A black Suzuki Avenis scooter bearing registration number TS 10 FC 7843, a green helmet allegedly used to conceal his face and a wrench were seized. Published - September 06, 2026 07:56 pm IST