Texas thieves steal $25,000 during prayer at holy shrine
- Three suspects from Texas stalked and stole $25,000 from a man praying at a shrine in Oklahoma.
- The thieves began their day by stealing a license plate and then followed their victim from a bank.
- The suspects are currently wanted by authorities and remain at large despite having been pulled over in Kansas.
In early November 2023, three individuals from Texas engaged in a criminal act in Oklahoma City. The suspects, Gabriel Lara, Nicholas Barrientos, and Ruben Barrientos, began their day by stealing a license plate from a vehicle parked at Santa Fe South High School. They then affixed the stolen plate to their own car before proceeding to a nearby Bank of America. At the bank, an unidentified victim withdrew $25,000 with the intention of purchasing a vehicle. The suspects reportedly tracked the victim's vehicle to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, a holy site dedicated to Stanley Rother, who is significant in the Catholic Church as the first priest born in the United States to be beatified. While the victim parked at a distance from others and ascended a hill to pray, the thieves broke into his car and took the cash. After committing the theft, the suspects drove north but were later stopped by law enforcement in Wichita, Kansas, for a traffic violation. During the stop, police noticed a marijuana odor and found conflicting stories regarding their travel. Despite finding significant cash in the vehicle, officers did not arrest the suspects since no illegal drugs were present, and the driver claimed the money was from a vehicle sale. All three suspects possessed Texas identification and had connections to prior crimes in Waco, Texas. Gabriel Lara had offenses related to evading arrest, while Ruben Barrientos had charges for theft and burglary, and Nicholas Barrientos for driving under the influence. Presently, they are facing several new charges in Oklahoma, including larceny and a pattern of criminal offenses. None of the suspects have any ties to Oklahoma, and they remain unapprehended. This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing such brazen acts, especially in areas associated with sanctity and respect. The case highlights the ongoing problem of opportunistic theft targeting vulnerable individuals within public or sacred spaces, prompting discussions about security measures that can be implemented in such environments to deter crime.