The temples' leaders believe the same group has targeted at least four temples in recent weeks.

ACCOKEEK, Md. — Two Buddhist temples in the DMV-area claim they were robbed, or almost robbed, on Tuesday.

In Accokeek, Md., the Wat Tummaprateip temple claimed a group of four stole over $2,000 from a monk's bedroom. Buddhist monks live off of the community's donations.

"We feel sad, we feel like it shouldn't happen in a holy place like this," Tuey Perilli said.

Security videos provided to the police and WUSA9 show the group the temple's leaders believe is responsible going into the monk's living quarters while a religious ceremony was in process downstairs.

The temple's leaders say the same group later tried to disconnect a number of security cameras.

"We leave our door open at all times anybody can come in to worship, you know to talk to the monks. And it happened," It's not right, it's not right," Perilli said.

Across town just a few hours later, the Wat Yarnna Rangsee temple in Sterling, Va., reported a case of breaking and entering.

Its leaders claim their surveillance video shows a man trying to distract a monk while two of his friends stole what they say was a set of keys before heading to the monks' bedrooms.

"Later on, we went upstairs we found all the drawers had been open," Doi Phuenpsipsop, secretary for the temple, said.

Nothing ultimately appears to have been stolen from that temple, but the monks said they believe at least four temples have been targeted: Three in the DMV area and one in North Carolina.

The temples' leaders say they have notified other temples in the region to be on the lookout.

Police are still working to determine whether the incidents are linked.

Phuenpsipsop said he believes Buddhist temples are being targeted because "Buddhist religion is very generous."

"The Buddhist temple is a nonprofit organization," Phuenpsipsop said. "Our income is based on people's donations. Maybe they were assuming the monks have cash."

But they said they can at least take comfort in knowing the thieves will now have "bad karma."

"If you do something bad in this life, you have to pay for it in the next life," Perilli said.

"We believe they're gonna get caught up pretty soon," Phuenpsipsop said.

Both Wat Tummaprateip and Wat Yarnna Rangsee said they will lock their doors more often from now on to make sure this doesn't happen again.