UK: Donation Box Stolen from Masjid-e-Raza Mosque in Blackburn

December 9, 2025

Thief removed shoes before entering Masjid-e-Raza and wheeled out safe containing charitable donations in wheelie bin during evening theft.

Photo by Masjid-e-Raza

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Key Takeaways

Safe containing charitable donations stolen from Blackburn mosque
Suspect captured on CCTV removing shoes before entering
Police release images seeking public identification assistance

BLACKBURN — A safe containing charitable donations has been stolen from Masjid-e-Raza on Alton Street in Blackburn, Lancashire, in a burglary that saw the suspect respectfully remove his shoes before entering the mosque.

The incident occurred around 5:30 PM GMT on Monday, with CCTV footage showing the individual wheeling the safe away in a wheelie bin.

The mosque released surveillance images showing a man approaching the building, pausing to remove his footwear in accordance with Islamic practice, then exiting with the secure container.

The stolen safe held undisclosed amounts of charitable donations collected from congregation members for community support purposes.

Lancashire Police confirmed no arrests have been made and are actively working to identify the suspect. Authorities have appealed to the public for information regarding the individual seen in the CCTV footage.

The community has relied on these donations to maintain mosque operations.

The investigation continues as police examine the CCTV footage and seek witnesses who may have observed suspicious activity around Alton Street during the Monday evening timeframe.