CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Two men have been arrested in the Chino Hills BAPS temple burglary investigation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
David Sanchez, 48, and Joseph Hernandez, 32, both of Chino Hills, are accused of entering the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir earlier in June and stealing property from the temple, according to investigators.
What investigators found in the Chino Hills BAPS temple burglary
Detectives executed search warrants during the investigation and recovered property believed to have been taken from the temple. The Sheriff’s Department has not disclosed what was stolen or estimated the value of the recovered items.
Both men were booked on burglary-related charges. Investigators said the case also includes allegations involving conspiracy and weapons offenses. One suspect was allegedly found with a firearm bearing an altered or removed serial number.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
No religious-bias motive announced
Investigators have not said the burglary was motivated by anti-Hindu bias or that it was connected to a separate vandalism incident at the temple in 2025.
That earlier case involved anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti and was investigated as a hate crime. It drew condemnation from community leaders and elected officials.
Temple serves Southern California’s Hindu community
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills is a major Hindu religious and cultural center serving worshippers across Southern California. It is part of the international BAPS Swaminarayan organization, which operates temples and community centers in the United States and other countries.
The burglary investigation remains active. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The case carries added community significance because the temple is an important Hindu landmark, although investigators have emphasized that no religious motive has been established in the current burglary inquiry.
