The incident took place around 3 am, police said. "The gang of dacoits wearing masks and armed with swords came to the temple and tied the hands and legs of the only security guard posted there. After entering the temple premises, they broke open the five cash boxes and decamped with the booty," Deputy Superintendent of Police of Ganeshpuri division, D M Godbole, said. While five of the dacoits looted the cash, the sixth one stood guard outside the temple, he said. The cash was donated by the devotees, mostly during the recently-concluded Navratri fair, he added. After the dacoits left the place in their vehicles, the temple guard went to the temple trustees residing nearby and told them about the incident, Godbole said.

After being alerted, Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjay Patil of Thane district rural rushed to the spot along with the team and checked the CCTV footage. The CCTV footage showed five dacoits moving towards the temple and leaving it, police said.