Two persons were arrested for stealing 10 sovereigns of gold jewellery, silver and brass objects, and cash from a local temple at Parsanapalli village near Ambur town in Tirupattur on Thursday.

Police said that the arrested persons were identified as K. Raja, 40, and his accomplice V. Tamilselvan, 27. They are residents of Periya Varigam village near Ambur and work at a private tannery in the area as wage labourers.

Initial inquiry revealed that when a few devotees found the lock in the door of the temple broken. gold jewellery on the deity inside the sanctum sanctorum was found missing with silver and other objects. Lock of the hundi was also broken and cash from it had been stolen.

Police said that the isolated location of the temple near a hillock could have prompted burglars to commit the crime. Police said that the burglars were nabbed after analysing CCTV footage in the area and with help from residents who noticed two suspects leaving the temple after the incident. Police nabbed the duo at the hideout in the village. Based on a complaint by temple authorities, a case was registered by Ambur police and the arrested persons were lodged at sub-jail in Tirupattur town. Further probe is under way.