Suspect wanted for stealing $38K from Buddhist temple in North Texas

Police: Ringleader of Buddhist temple thefts identified

Have you seen this man? White Settlement police he is one thieves caught on video stealing $38,000 from a Buddhist temple in White Settlement last year.

WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas - White Settlement Police have identified one of the suspects wanted for targeting Buddhist temples in North Texas and stealing about $38,000 in cash from one of those temples last year.

Police are looking for a group of eight women and three men.

The White Settlement Police Department believes 36-year-old Narcis Chiciu is the ringleader of the group of thieves caught on video at the Wat Busayadhammvanaram Buddhist Temple in White Settlement on Nov. 20, 2022.

The department released video of that incident. It showed the suspects – mostly women wearing headscarves and masks – distracting the monks and stealing cash.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Thieves take $38,000 from White Settlement Buddhist temple

White Settlement police say in a recent incident suspects distracted a monk while others made off with $38,000 in cash.

Another man with them, now identified as Chiciu, was also seen inside, seemingly praying.

Police say it was all a sham.

"They spent 23 minutes on our property from the time that the van pulled up and they got out started asking for the prayers until the time they get back in the van," said White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook.

Police said several of the women snuck into the temple’s back area while the other suspects chatted with the monks and asked to pray. They broke into file cabinets, kicked in doors, and damaged property while looking for cash.

After just 23 minutes, the suspects all got back into a stolen minivan and got away with $38,000.

Police: Suspect wanted for stealing $38K from temple

White Settlement police are asking for help finding a man they say is part of a ploy to steal tens of thousands of dollars in donations from Buddhist temples. Chief Christopher Cook said advanced technology helped identify the suspect who may be connected to crimes across the country.

"When they got into the offices, they ransacked the office caused some property damage, found a safe, broke in and stole $38,000 cash," said Cook.

Investigators believe the temple was targeted based on knowledge of the facility having a large amount of donations in November.

Cook says two similar Buddhist temple thefts occurred in Irving and Fort Worth.

"Just in the North Texas offenses over $100,000 worth the cash proceeds were taken," the chief said.

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(White Settlement PD)

Investigators, with the help of the FBI, are certain the group has pulled off multiple thefts at temples across the country.

Cook says he believes the same group pulled off a similar scam in Denver in the last week.

White Settlement police said the Westworth Village Police Department helped to identify Chiciu through various law enforcement databases.

His prior mugshots closely resemble one of the male suspects in the video.

Narcis Chiciu (White Settlement PD)

There is now a warrant out for Chiciu’s arrest on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Police are searching for him and believe at one time he lived in an apartment in Arlington with several others.

"We did do some stakeouts, some undercover work over there never could catch any of them coming and going. Then we got a break in the case last month," said Cook.

Thanks to advanced technology a recent match of his face connected him to a separate crime in Florida.

"If we get him into custody investigators believe they will be able to seize is his electronic devices and identify the women and the other men that were associated with this ring because we don’t think they’re going to stop," said Cook.

Anyone with information about Chiciu is asked to contact Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS or email investigator@wspd.us.