2 charged in thefts from collection plate, poor box

MOUNTAINSIDE, New Jersey (AP) -- Turns out somebody was watching from up above.

A longtime member of a church here has been charged with stealing about $28,000 over 11 years after church officials caught him on tape with his hand in the collection plate, authorities said.

William J. Biunno, 71, a former trustee and member of the choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, is accused of taking the money during Sunday Mass after it was collected from parishioners, Sgt. Vincent Gagliardi of the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Church officials became suspicious late last year after one noticed something unusual on an in-house video surveillance system, authorities said. Because that camera wasn't at a good angle to see all of Biunno's actions, church officials added others that clearly showed Biunno pocketing the money.

Church officials brought the tapes to police, removed Biunno from his position as a church trustee and forbid him from helping with the collection.

Biunno, who declined to comment, continued to be an active church member and attended religious events right up until he was charged.

Taking cash from the church isn't limited to New Jersey.

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