Taking advantage of the continuous rains, miscreants broke open the hundi of Sri Karpaga Vinayagar temple at Motilal Nehru Street in Kumbakonam early this morning and escaped with the collection.

The temple priest, Sridhar, left the temple locked last night after performing the poojas.

The owner of a tea shop near the temple, who came to open his shop this morning, found the hundi broken. On being informed, the trustee, Sairam Kumar, rushed to the temple.

Based on his complaint, the Kumbakonam West police have registered a case. A team of police officials inspected the scene of crime earlier.