Man arrested for impersonating priest to steal hundreds from Bayside church – NBC New York

A man was arrested after police say he posed as a priest to gain entry to a Queens church and then stole hundreds of dollars from an unlocked bedroom.

Malin Rostas was arrested Thursday and charged with burglary and petty theft for the incident that occurred March 3 at the American Martyrs Roman Catholic Church in Bayside, police said. Rostas, 45, was spotted on camera outside the Queens church before carrying out the alleged robbery.

Father Peter Rayder said Rostas went to the church on Bell Boulevard and pretended to be a friendly priest in town to concelebrate, a practice in which a visiting priest can lead the service with other priests from another parish. When he entered, he encountered an 85-year-old priest and tricked him by claiming he had left something at the rectory and needed to pick it up.

The trusting priest let Rostas in. While Rayder was in the kitchen, the fake priest went into his bedroom and stole $900, police said. Rayder encountered the alleged thief, but not until after he had taken the money.

“I saw him. I talked to him. I asked, ‘What’s going on?’ He said, ‘I’m here to celebrate,'” Rayder told NBC New York, then asked Rostas if he had a letter from a bishop.

Rostas said Rayder told him, “Oh, it’s in my car. I’m going to get it. It’ll never be seen again.”

According to police, this was not the first time Rostas had done something like this. According to published reports, he had traveled around the country disguised as a priest and planned to rob unsuspecting clergy.

He was also caught doing the same thing at another church in Riverside County, California. He was nabbed in April by the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Office, aided by NYPD surveillance photos, and was extradited on Thursday.

“I’m glad, I’m happy. I feel sorry for the man. But as I said a few months ago, when justice is done, there will be forgiveness. But you have to do your penance,” Rayder said.

It is not known whether Rostas is facing additional charges elsewhere. Information about Rostas’ attorney was not immediately clear.