Police Arrest Man Who Allegedly Stole Money From Church Coffers
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

A man who allegedly has a history of dipping his hand into coffers at Upper East Side churches was arrested by a police officer posing as a parishioner.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office charged Gilbert Alicea, 41, with attempting to remove money from a donation box using a stick and double sided tape. He was arraigned in criminal court on Thursday on charges of possession of burglar’s tools and attempted petty larceny and was released that day, the district attorney’s office said.
Police said he was suspected of committing a similar crime at the church on July 26. Although the district attorney’s office could not explain why, the criminal complaint involved only the earlier crime.
A 19th Precinct police officer, Maria Ayala, allegedly caught Mr. Alicea in the act last Wednesday inside Church of St. Vincent Ferrer at 869 Lexington Ave. between 65th and 66th streets.
Along with a sidekick who acts as the lookout, Mr. Alicea has long been stealing money from the church, Ms. Ayala told The New York Sun. She described the duo’s routine: They arrive at the church at the end of morning Mass. The accomplice watches out from the pew as Mr. Alicea kneels down before various saints along with other church members who stay to pray to the saints.
“He would pretend he was deep in prayer,” Ms. Ayala said, adding that he would hold a prayer card.
The donation boxes – which contain the $2 contributions for each candle lit per saint – are nearby. Mr. Alicea would make his way over to the boxes and extract cash, the officer said.
Mr. Alicea had been seen but not caught in the past, Ms. Ayala said, adding that she went to the church last week because she had heard he was again targeting it. The officer sat in a pew in her civilian attire and noticed Mr. Alicea walk by her. Ms. Ayala said she joined him in prayer before one of the saints. She said the suspect may have grown suspicious because of how long she remained there, so she went and kneeled before another statue. “I had a perfect vision of him,” Ms. Ayala said. She said she told a church security guard to call 911, and as she hung her head in prayer she saw the suspect walk over to one of the cash boxes and take out his tools of the trade.
Police moved in on Mr. Alicea. Upon arrest, he allegedly had in his pants and jacket pockets three sticks with two-sided tape on the ends, as well as at least two pairs of tweezers, a car antenna, a roll of tape, and what appeared to be a handcuff key.
The church did not return a call for comment.
Mr. Alicea is expected back in court November 30, according to the district attorney’s office. Mr. Alicea’s attorney, Justine Luongo of Legal Aid, could not be reached for comment.