Nationwide Scam Uncovered
A thief posing as a visiting priest has been linked to a series of thefts at houses of worship across the country, netting tens of thousands of dollars. Malin Rostas, the accused conman, was recently extradited to New York City after being arrested in California.
Caught in the Act
Rostas’ scam was exposed a few months ago when he was caught trying to steal from a church in Moreno Valley, California. Posing as “Father Martin,” he attempted to rob the church but was apprehended by authorities. He has since been returned to NYC to face charges for a March theft at a Bayside parish.
The Queens Heist
On March 3, Rostas entered American Martyrs RC Church in Bayside, posing as a visiting priest. He claimed to be there to officiate a Mass and tricked the senior priest into allowing him into the rectory. Once inside, he stole $900 from the bedroom of Father Peter Rayder. Rostas fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan.
A Nationwide Pattern
Rostas’ fake priest act and consistent modus operandi have been used in thefts across the nation. In October, he posed as a visiting clergyman from Chicago at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston, where he stole $500. He also attempted similar burglaries in Dallas and Oregon and is suspected of thefts in Ontario, Canada.
Previous Arrests
Rostas was previously arrested in Southern California for an attempted church burglary and had an outstanding warrant for a 2022 burglary in Pennsylvania. He pleaded guilty to a receiving stolen property charge in June before being extradited to New York.
Awaiting Arraignment
Rostas faces charges of second-degree burglary and petit larceny in Queens Criminal Court. Due to delays from a worldwide Microsoft outage, he may not appear before a judge until the weekend. Diocese of Brooklyn spokesman John Quaglione expressed hope that the arrest will end Rostas’ alleged crime spree against churches.
