Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT
A Houston man was arrested and charged for allegedly stealing money from several churches in the Dallas area, according to the Wylie Police Department.
Officers with the police department responded to a call about mail theft on July 6 at The Cross Church, northeast of Dallas. Staff members of the church noticed that the mailbox — located in the church parking lot — had been pried open, according to a press release from the department.
The department used Flock Safety cameras that linked investigators to a vehicle registered in Houston. After the reported theft, surveillance was set up at the church. Cameras captured the vehicle driving to the church and the alleged driver walking to the mailbox.
Viorel Velcu, 38, allegedly also stole money from a church in Flower Mound, about 38 miles away from Wylie, Detective Alexandra Waters told Houston Public Media.
Velcu was arrested during a traffic stop on July 6 on mail theft charges. Detectives believe that other churches may be identified during an ongoing investigation, Waters said.
Velcu was arrested for the mail theft from The Cross Church. The exact number of locations that mail was stolen from was not immediately clear, and additional charges could arise as the investigation continues.
Investigators are still working to identify how much money was stolen, Waters said.