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Donations for Turkey, Syria earthquake victims stolen from Flower Mound mosque
Flower Mound police are investigating a burglary at a mosque where a thief made off with donations meant for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Flower Mound police are investigating a burglary at a mosque where a thief made off with donations meant for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
The Islamic Association of Lewisville and Flower Mound provided police with surveillance images of someone who may have answers.
The suspect made their way inside the Masjid-Al-Noor Islamic School/Mosque on Peters Colony Road at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, according to police. He was wearing a hood and a mask while carrying a backpack.
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The mosque was closed, but he entered through an unlocked door. He walked toward the donation boxes.
The Islamic Association says community members filled the boxes with cash and checks to help earthquake victims.
What surveillance does not show is the back of some other boxes that appear to have been broken into.
The mosque says money was stolen.
Courtesy: Harris Khan
Flower Mound police are investigating.
"Our sadness is deepened since some of the stolen money was intended to help at the refugee relief efforts," said association president Razaq Khazi-Syed.
READ MORE: How to help earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria
The association president says he does not know how much money was taken. He says they had a successful fundraising event last weekend. he does not know why the door was unlocked.
"We are going to review our security procedures," Khazi-Syed said.
Police have not yet released any of the surveillance images the association provided, but some appear to show a man canvassing their mosque on two separate occasions before Monday’s theft, including Sunday afternoon.
Courtesy: Harris Khan
Surveillance appears to show the man examining the drop-off boxes before leaving.
The man on Sunday appears to be wearing similar shoes as the masked man on Monday. The mosque says the vehicles also match.
"A lot of people come in, and it’s quite possible that he may have just slipped in as one of the worshippers," Khazi-Syed said.
However, police have not confirmed if this person is a suspect. So, for now, FOX 4 is choosing not to show his face.
The mosque does not believe the man is one of its own.
The mosque calls the theft shameful and heartless but says its community will rally to still get money to those impacted by the earthquake.