A Houston man has been arrested in connection with a string of mail thefts from local churches following a multi-jurisdictional investigation led by the Wylie Police Department.
On July 6, officers were called to The Cross Church in Wylie after staff reported repeated incidents of the church’s parking lot mailbox being pried open. Detectives launched an investigation and were able to identify a suspect vehicle registered in Houston.
With the assistance of FLOCK Safety license plate recognition cameras, investigators tracked the vehicle’s return to the Dallas Metroplex and eventually to Wylie. Surveillance units observed the vehicle arrive at The Cross Church, where the driver exited and stood next to the mailbox.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Viorel Velcu of Houston, was stopped and arrested. He faces charges of unlawful use of a criminal instrument, mail theft involving 10 or fewer addresses, and was also wanted on a warrant from the Flower Mound Police Department for mail theft involving a similar number of addresses.
Wylie police credited the success of the arrest to the cooperation and teamwork of all involved agencies.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities say additional charges may be filed.
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From Staff Reports • [email protected]
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