Man Arrested for Posing as Priest and Allegedly Robbing Churches Across Multiple States: Authorities
A man, accused of stealing from several places of worship in New York, has been apprehended by authorities, police shared.
Malin Rostas has been taken into custody for allegedly stealing from a Queens Church and has also been linked to several robberies from houses of worship across the country, The New York Post reported.
The robberies have reportedly netted around tens of thousands of dollars, cops and law-enforcement sources claimed, The New York Post reported. The authorities caught Rostas when he apparently tried to steal from a church in Moreno Valley, about 60 miles from Los Angeles while posing as "Father Martin."
Rostas has been extradited to New York City, to face charges for stealing from a Bayside parish in March, The New York Post reported. The accused allegedly had a modus operandi which he applied in most of his robberies.
Father Peter Rayder, 63, from American Martyrs RC Church shared that the accused entered the establishment claiming he was a visiting priest hoping to officiate a Mass alongside the in-house clergy, NBC New York reported.
The accused told the senior priest in the establishment that he left something behind in the rectory, and took the opportunity to sneak into Rayder’s bedroom and allegedly steal $900, NBC New York reported. "I saw him. I spoke to him. I said, 'What’s going on?' He said, 'I’m here to concelebrate,'" Rayder told the outlet.
Rayder allegedly caught Rostas in his path and asked if he had a letter from the bishop, The New York Post reported. The accused reportedly went back to his car to get it and escaped from the site.
Rayder claimed that Rostas was well-prepared for his crimes, WABC reported. The accused allegedly made sure to know the names of the clergy and also ensured that he used a vocabulary that made him seem a part of the clergy. Therefore, the church staff easily believed his lies.
"He’s a vulture, he’s a vulture, gypsy, he knows what he’s doing," Rayder said. Rostas has been charged with burglary and petit larceny for the incident, NBC New York reported. Police have informed that the accused has been captured on surveillance footage outside the Queens Church before he pulled off the alleged heist.
Police claim that Rostas has committed similar robberies all over the country, NBC New York reported. Rayder was happy that the accused had been apprehended.
"I’m glad, I’m happy. I feel bad for the man. But just as I said a couple of months ago: After justice is served, there’ll be forgiveness. But you have to do your penance," said Rayder, NBC New York reported.
According to sources, Rostas has stolen thousands of dollars in New York alone, The New York Post reported. He apparently had attempted to steal from St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Brooklyn, and the Sisters of Saint Dominic in Amityville, Suffolk County, but failed in his pursuit, the outlet stated.
In October 2023, Rostas stole from St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston, The New York Post reported. He claimed to the staff in the establishment that he was a visiting clergyman from Chicago named "Father Martin."
Like in Queens, he told the staff that he forgot his keys. The staff gave him keys to the rectory and he allegedly stole $500 from the facility. Similar cases of robberies have been reported in Oregon and Ontario, Canada.
At present, it is not clear if Rostas will be charged for the alleged additional robberies all across the country or if he has taken up any legal representation, NBC New York reported.