Police say two balaclava-clad men forced their way into the Phuoc Hue temple on Victoria Street in Wetherill Park about 8.40pm on Monday and threatened the two women, aged 81 and 88, who were inside the temple’s sleeping quarters.

It is believed one of the offenders forced the 81-year-old woman onto the ground as the accomplice stole charity money and an iPad from the temple.

The attackers fled before officers from the Fairfield Local Area Command arrived.

“Cowardly, disgraceful and completely disrespectful – for someone to attack elderly ladies, let alone Buddhist nuns, is frankly disgraceful,” Superintendent Peter Lennon said at a press conference today.

“Pathetic criminals is a good description of these people.”

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated both women at the scene for shock, before taking the 81-year-old woman to Fairfield Hospital for observation. She was in a stable condition.

Police investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information about the robbery is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.

– TiVi Tuan-san