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Viorel Velcu, 38 (Source: Wylie Police Department)
WYLIE, Texas – A 38-year-old Houston man has been arrested and is facing multiple charges after an investigation into mail thefts at a North Texas church was reported.
Church Mail Theft
What we know:
According to Wylie Police, officers were called to The Cross Church on July 6 after staff reported the mailbox in the church parking lot had been pried open on several occasions.
During the investigation, detectives were able to identify a suspect vehicle registered in Houston. With the help of FLOCK Safety Cameras, detectives were able to determine when the vehicle was driven back to the Dallas metroplex, and specifically to Wylie.
Police were able to set up surveillance at the church and saw the vehicle arrive at the church. Police say the driver got out of the vehicle and stood next to the mailbox.
The driver, Viorel Velcu, of Houston, was stopped and arrested for unlawful use of a criminal instrument, mail theft, and an arrest warrant from the Flower Mound Police Department for mail theft. He was booked into the Collin County Jail on July 27. He is being held on a combined bond of $50,000.
What we know:
Wylie Police did not say if the charges from Flower Mound were for mail theft from a church.
What they’re saying:
“We would like to commend all our officers and partnering agencies involved in this investigation,” Wylie Police officials said in a news release. “Their dedication and teamwork helped prevent additional mail thefts across Wylie and the Dallas Metroplex. This continues to be an active investigation with additional criminal charges possible.”
The Source: Information in this article is from the Wylie Police Department and the Collin County Jail.
WylieTexasCrime and Public Safety