WARNING to Churches as Burglar, Impersonating a Priest,Travels to Churches Across the US and Stole $900 from a NY Church, is Now Wanted by Police
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The suspect told a priest at the American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church in Queens on Sunday afternoon that he was also a man of the cloth visiting the church from Rome.
The priest invited him into the rectory, where he allegedly stole $900 in cash from his bedroom.
Father Peter Rayder said the man was acquainted with their names, used vocabulary a priest would and knew where to go.
"He's a vulture, he's a vulture, gypsy, he knows what he's doing," Rayder said.
Rayder explained that when he confronted the so-called priest and asked him to show proof, he left. The NYPD said he drove a dark-colored sedan.
"It's very sad that someone is going to come on to any house of worship and just violate everybody," Rayder said.
The Diocese of Brooklyn said a man matching the suspect's description told similar stories at a church in Suffolk County and at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Brooklyn.
Authorities believe the alleged conman's crime spree extends beyond New York, to other States.
Rayder explained that when he confronted the so-called priest and asked him to show proof, he left. The NYPD said he drove a dark-colored sedan.
"It's very sad that someone is going to come on to any house of worship and just violate everybody," Rayder said.
The Diocese of Brooklyn said a man matching the suspect's description told similar stories at a church in Suffolk County and at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Brooklyn.
Authorities believe the alleged conman's crime spree extends beyond New York, to other States.
Sources: Diocese of Brooklyn and Abc7ny
WANTED-BURGLARY: 3/3/24 @ 12:18PM, the victim was approached by an unknown individual who impersonated a Priest in order to obtain access into the American Martyrs Church. While inside, the individual removed $900 in cash from the victim’s unlocked bedroom. Reward up to $3,500 pic.twitter.com/dT7BRBgpnY
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) March 6, 2024
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