CCTV footage of youths throwing pieces of concrete through a bedroom window.
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A BUDDHIST temple in South Albury has become the target of youths who have thrown rocks and eggs at its windows four times in the past three weeks.
Police have not ruled out a religious attack on what is traditionally a place of peace.
Monk Ajahn Satit said yesterday he felt sorry for the youths’ ignorance.
“They should take care for their future, doing this is no benefit for themselves,” Ajahn said.
“This is not anger — this is ignorance.”
Eggs were thrown at the Abercorn Street building on March 31 and a week later, Ajahn came home to find the mail box missing and a window broken.
Boards were put up on the windows of the brick building at the end of a quiet street.
A week later, Ajahn was in the meditation room with another member when a rock was thrown at a piece of window not quite covered by the boards.
On Wednesday night, a car stopped and broken bits of concrete were thrown through a bedroom window.
Insp David Cottee said police were investigating the attacks, which were possibly linked.
“It’s disappointing to think people are not respectful enough to leave other people’s beliefs alone,” he said.
Patrols of the area would be increased.
A crime prevention officer would work with the temple, which already has closed-circuit television cameras, to improve security.
It is little more than a year since the temple was robbed twice in six weeks of the equipment used to tidy the house and temple.
The temple, which welcomes all to its Sunday service, has existed in Abercorn Street since 1986 and is the only one of its kind in the region.
Ajahn, who moved to Australia from Thailand 15 years ago, moved to Albury two years ago to try and raise the profile of the temple in the region.
He said the attacks were an exercise in tolerance for the Border members of one of the world’s most peaceful religions.
Ajahn urged the vandals, who he said were young people, to find other means to use their energy.
“If they do some other challenges that are a lot better for the community and themselves,” he said.