NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A serial thief impersonated a priest to steal money from a real priest at a church in Queens last weekend—and church officials said Wednesday the suspect is a cross-country crook who's wanted as far away as California.
The 63-year-old priest was at the American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church on Bell Boulevard in Hollis Hills around 12:15 p.m. Sunday when the suspect impersonated a priest to gain entry to the church, according to the NYPD.
Surveillance video shows the suspect clad in a dark suit as he walks with the priest into the church ahead of afternoon Mass.
Once inside the church, he stole $900 in cash from the victim's unlocked rectory and then fled in a dark-colored sedan that was last seen traveling southbound on Bell Boulevard.
The Diocese of Brooklyn, which covers Queens, said Wednesday that it appears to be the same suspect who hit a church in the Flatlands in Brooklyn a few months ago.
According to the diocese, the man has been robbing churches throughout the country, including outside Houston in late October. There are also warrants for his arrest out of California and Pennsylvania, they said.
NYPD
John Quaglione, the deputy press secretary for the Brooklyn Diocese, said the FBI and NYPD should work together to nab him since the crime spree has crossed state lines.
"I looked at the Texas video, it's exactly what he was wearing Sunday in Bayside, and he has a method to his madness here and it's hard to believe this serial thief has not been caught yet."
The diocese held a pastor meeting Tuesday night to discuss the issue. They're now distributing a photo of the suspect to every church in the diocese.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
