The City of White Settlement Police Department responded to an organized diversionary theft on November 20, 2022 at the Wat Busayadhammvanaram Buddhist Temple at 7916 White Settlement Road. This case was covered extensively across North Texas by local media, as similar offenses occurred in other jurisdictions. Investigative resources were directed at solving this case where $38,000 was stolen by a group of suspects. The department has identified a suspect as 36-year-old Narcis Chiciu, believed to be residing in the Arlington, Texas area. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS or 817-246-7070 or via email investigator@wspd.us. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to the prosecution of the suspects.
The suspect was identified through various law enforcement databases with the assistance of the Westworth Village Police Department.
Investigators believe the Temple was targeted based upon prior knowledge of the facility having a large amount of donations during the month of November.
Based upon the elements of the offense, a second-degree felony warrant for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity was secured. Investigators are hopeful once Mr. Chiciu is in custody, the additional suspects can be identified.
The minivan driven to the offense location in White Settlement was determined to be stolen out of Dallas and recovered nearby, less than a mile from the offense. The department worked with the Arlington and Dallas Police Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on this offence. Additionally, at least three other Buddhist Temples were targeted across the Dallas-Fort Worth region within days of this original offense.
Original News Release/Details of original offense: On November 20, 2022 at about 12:25 p.m., a silver minivan, occupied by two men and seven women, arrived to the Wat Busayadhammvanaram Buddhist Temple located at 7916 White Settlement Road in White Settlement, Texas. One female suspect remained with the van, while the eight other suspects exited the van and walked towards the temple. One of these females engaged in conversation with a monk and another visitor outside, in what appears to be an attempt to distract them away from the other suspects. who then walked casually inside the Temple asking to pray.
Once inside, these suspects were seen speaking to another monk before several of the women suspects disappeared into the back areas of the building. These female suspects began breaking filing cabinets, kicking in doors, and damaging other areas of the living spaces inside the Temple. Two of the female suspects ran out the back of the building and around to the front parking lot where the van was waiting. All suspects got inside the van, operated by one of the males, and left the property. The suspects were on the Temple property for a total of twenty-three (23) minutes.
The van was later found abandoned in a residential neighborhood about a mile away from the temple. WSPD officers investigated the abandoned van and discovered it to be a Toyota Sienna with a fake paper tag (4607699) reported stolen out of Dallas, Texas. This van was registered in the State of Colorado. A representative for the temple advised $38,000.00 in cash donations were taken during this incident. Upon receiving this case for investigation, it was discovered at least three (3) other Buddhist Temples across the DFW area were all hit in the same manner within days of this incident. Further investigation showed dozens of temples across the United States, both Buddhist and Hindu temples, were hit in a similar manner around this same time. We are aware of ongoing investigations of similar-type crimes in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Photo Attachments: Suspect Images
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