Five charged in check theft from Metro Detroit churches
- Five individuals were charged with bank fraud and theft of checks from churches in Metro Detroit.
- The group used tools to steal mail from church mailboxes over a two-month period, depositing stolen checks into accounts linked to a Houston address.
- Their arrest revealed a larger scheme targeting religious institutions, raising concerns about organized theft in the area.
In Metro Detroit, five individuals have been charged with multiple offenses related to the theft of checks intended for local churches. The accused, including Delphine-Georgiana Epure and Leonard Mihaiu, allegedly used a tool to extract mail from church mailboxes, with surveillance footage capturing their actions. Over a span of two months, they reportedly returned to the same mailbox multiple times, leading to the theft of checks from at least 38 churches. The stolen checks were deposited into bank accounts linked to a Houston address, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of the operations. Authorities discovered that the group had also attempted to steal a gift card from a church mailbox, which they later cashed. Their activities culminated in an arrest on September 27, where law enforcement found numerous stolen checks and cash in their possession. This case highlights a concerning trend of organized theft targeting religious institutions in the area, prompting increased scrutiny and preventive measures by local authorities.