Crime & Safety

Police: Allentown Woman Stole Thousands from Local Churches

Mary Stein, who has been charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property, allegedly used aliases in order to accept thousands of dollars in assistance from the member churches of the Hellertown Area Ministerium.

Editor's Note: An earlier published version of this story stated that money was stolen from New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church. However, the money taken was from a fund for individuals in need maintained by nine churches that comprise the Hellertown Area Ministerium, according to the group's treasurer and New Jerusalem pastor Tricia McMackin. The Hellertown Area Ministerium's member churches are New Jerusalem, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Lower Saucon UCC, Mountainview Moravian Church, First UCC, St. George's Episcopal Church, St. Theresa's, Christ Lutheran Church of Lower Saucon and Christ Lutheran Church of Hellertown. This story has been revised to reflect that information.

An Allentown woman used various aliases to steal money from a number of churches, taking advantage of their generosity in the process, according to Lower Saucon Township police.

Mary Stein, of 1106 Allen Street, Apt. 2, Allentown, has been charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property, after police say she used false aliases in order to acquire $3,250.67 from , 3233 Apples Church Road, Lower Saucon.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the church's pastor, Tricia McMackin, the money Stein allegedly received was from a fund for persons in need maintained by the nine member churches of the Hellertown Area Ministerium.

McMackin said she also serves as treasurer for the ministerium.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stein was arraigned before District Justice Sherwood Grigg and her bail was set at $5,000 unsecured, police said in a press release issued June 29.

According to police, an investigation began when the churches recently reported that Stein "had been using aliases requesting money for rent."

When using the aliases, police said Stein led church members to believe that a woman named Mary Stein was her landlord.

At some point, they realized that aliases were being used and that all the checks written to assist the various aliases were only benefiting Stein, police said.

"Through this investigation a total of eight other churches were able to be identified as also providing financial assistance to various aliases, all having the common landlord of Mary Stein and writing checks to Mary Stein with the impression that she was the landlord," police added.

Police said their investigation has revealed that Stein was also provided with $11,310.99 by two of the other local churches that contributed money to the fund.


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