TEXAS COMPUTER THIEF CAUGHT News 8 | WFAA.com: Police nab serial burglary suspect

FORT WORTH — Abdulah Bashir went to prison for manslaughter. But after being released on parole, police say he's back to a life of crime.

Bashir, 58, is accused of burglarizing dozens of churches and office buildings in Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, Haltom City, Bedford and Richland Hills.

According to police, Bashir would case his targets during business hours; sometimes going in and asking for a job application.

He would then return at night and commit burglary, police say, sometimes hitting he same location several times.

But on Thursday, Bashir was nabbed.

They have no respect for anything or anybody when they do that," he said.

Bell said a surveillance video shows a man resembling Bashir throwing a rock into a glass door at a Richland Hills business. The figure darts inside to steal al computer from the lobby.

The thief ducked out without leaving a fingerprint behind.

"I think he thought he was never going to get caught," Bell said.

Police said Bashir had been targeting churches and office buildings for copper and computer equipment over a nine-month period. They believe he pawned the parts for nearly $200,000 cash.

On Thursday, Bashir was arrested at a Haltom City house. Investigators said they found many of the stolen computer parts, but no copper piping.

Bigham was glad to hear of Bashir's arrest, because it's simply just not cool to steal air conditioners from a church.

There's a brand-new lock on the fence surrounding Baker Boulevard Church of Christ in Richland Hills—but there's not much left to secure.

Four industrial air conditioning units were savagely gutted for their valuable copper piping. "It's cold weather," said church spokesman Leslie Bigham. "We don't need it until we can get it replaced."

Investigators allege that Bashir ripped apart the four cooling units at the church, and they also believe he is responsible for stealing from at least 75 other places.

"Seventy-five is a very conservative number," said Richland Hills police Detective Tye Bell.

Next week, investigators in all six cities targeted by the crime wave are going to take a closer look at their robbery case files. They expect to link Bashir to more crimes.