Fake LDS Missionaries Rob Las Vegas Homeowner, Escape With Around $3,000 Cash; How To Detect Mormon Missionary Impersonators

Update August 29th: Both Abraham Austin and Robert Estall have been arrested and charged; updated post HERE.

Screenshot of photo from KSL Channel 5; note there are NO NAME TAGS

It's bad enough that we have to deal with police impersonators. But now, due to the increased prominence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we also have missionary impersonators. Two men dressed as Mormon missionaries knocked on a person’s door to discuss religion and then attacked and robbed him at gunpoint in the area of Flamingo Road and Buffalo Drive in the southwest part of Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the crime took place around 6:20 A.M. on June 27th, 2013, it is only now that the Las Vegas Sun and KTNV Channel 13 are reporting on it because police didn't release photos of the suspects until today (August 20th).

The suspects were dressed in standard missionary attire, wearing black pants and white shirts with black ties, although neither this Las Vegas Sun photo nor this KVVU photo shows them wearing name tags. They spoke with the victim for about five minutes before jumping and punching him. They demanded property from the victim while holding him at gunpoint. Although the media outlets have not specified what was taken, a poster on Nevada Shooters says the two perps escaped with around $5,000 worth of cash and property combined. However, KSTU Channel 13 now reports that the victim, identified as Terence Delucia, says the perps took $3,000 the family had been saving for a trip to Disneyland, along with three iPads and an iPod. DeLucia's wife and daughter hid in a closet and were unhurt.

Suspect Description: One suspect is white, 22 to 28 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 130 to 145 pounds. He was carrying a black backpack and was armed with a handgun. The other man is black, 22 to 28 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 190 to 210 pounds. The Las Vegas Sun is to be commended for including the race in the perps' description; too many media outlets refuse to do so today due to political correctness.

How To Spot A Missionary Impersonator: The victim obviously never expected fake missionaries. Here's how these perps could have been smoked out in advance:

-- No name tags. All missionaries engaged in proselytization wear official name tags -- NO EXCEPTIONS!

-- Knocking on doors at 6 A.M. Doesn't happen. Missionaries only engage in door-to-door proselyting during daylight hours, particularly between 10 A.M. and 9 P.M.

-- Backpacks. Backpacks are no longer authorized for official missionary use; they now use shoulder bags.

Update: I was under the impression that all missionaries carried an "ecclesiastical license" to preach on their person when proselyting based upon Tim Malone's experience during his mission to Central America. However, since a commenter said he received no such license for his own mission, this can no longer be used as a litmus test.

In the final analysis, use common sense. If someone you don't know is at your door, ask them to establish their bonafides before opening your door. Discussion has now surfaced on LDS Freedom Forum and the F2 Anonboard (uncensored)