Police in Oklahoma City are currently on the lookout for three individuals from Texas who have been accused of stealing a substantial amount of cash from a man while he was in the midst of praying.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Gabriel Lara, Nicholas Barrientos, and Ruben Barrientos in connection with the crimes that occurred earlier this month.
According to reports, the theft began by taking an Oklahoma license plate from a different vehicle parked outside Santa Fe South High School and subsequently affixing it to their own car.
The suspects proceeded to the nearby Bank of America to observe customers. Upon the victim’s arrival at the bank, they withdrew $25,000 for a vehicle purchase.
The victim, with the suspects tailing him, departed the bank and made his way to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.
He chose to park his car at a secluded spot, away from the presence of other vehicles. With a serene environment surrounding him, he made his way up the hill to find solace in prayer.
The suspects swiftly parked their vehicle beside the victim’s car. In a matter of seconds, they shattered the victim’s window, pilfered the cash, and swiftly disappeared from the scene.
Later in the day, the authorities pulled over the men in Wichita, Kansas, due to a traffic violation.
According to court documents, the officer detected the scent of marijuana and observed conflicting travel accounts.
During the search of the vehicle, the police discovered two bundles of cash. However, no drugs were found, and there were no previous drug charges against them. As a result, they were released with the driver receiving citations.
According to the police, the driver stated that the money was obtained from selling a vehicle. However, they also mentioned that there is no known income source to justify the amount of money.
All three suspects possessed Texas identification cards and provided Texas addresses. Furthermore, the registered owner of the vehicle verified that it had been sold to Lara a few months prior. The warrants also indicated that their records did not reveal any connections to Oklahoma.
All three men from Waco, including Lara, Ruben Barrientos, and Nicholas Barrientos, have criminal histories. Lara has faced charges of evading arrest, Ruben Barrientos has been charged with theft of property and burglary of vehicles, and Nicholas Barrientos has a previous charge of driving while intoxicated.
The three men in Oklahoma now face multiple charges, such as larceny, burglary, and a pattern of criminal offenses.
During a recent interview, police declined to comment on the specific case at hand. However, News 4 had previously spoken with law enforcement officials regarding a similar situation.
“Be mindful of your surroundings and avoid counting your cash in public view,” advised MSgt. Gary Knight from the Oklahoma City Police Department.
We also contacted the shrine and received the following statement:
The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is open to all, and while we take every reasonable precaution for security on our campus, things can still happen. Our staff has been cooperating with the police to share CCTV footage in the hope that the money can be returned. Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine
When News 4 inquired about the footage, the police stated that they do not intend to make it public.
