Criminal Mind goes to Church

Text taken from The Church Report.

Hidden Cameras Catches Collection Plate Thief

By CR Staff

(CR) – A 75-year-old church usher was caught pocketing money during the New Year’s Eve service at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary, N.C. Police were brought in to help nab the collection plate thief when a member of the church reported that it appeared the usher took money and the pastor witnessed suspicious activity as the collection plate was passed.

Using hidden cameras and marked money the police were able to catch the thief in the act. Police found a mark $20 bill in the pocket of James MacCaline. According to police captain Dave Wulff, MacCaline was arrested at the back of the church without incident and charged him with misdemeanor larceny.

This was the third attempted by the police to catch the theft. The Christmas Eve operation failed and the usher didn’t come to church Christmas day.

“Our options are limited in a case like this,” Wulff said. “We can walk up to the guy and ask him about it and have him say 'I don't know what you're talking about' or we can do what we did.”

MacCaline has no criminal record and has admitted to taking the money according to the police.