Haziq Shah mosque theft photo

Haziq Shah is charged with stealing hundreds of dollars from a South Brunswick mosque.

(Photo provided by South Brunswick police)

SOUTH BRUNSWICK – The man sought by police for stealing hundreds of dollars from the donation box at a local mosque will surrender to authorities upon his release from the out-of state rehabilitation center where he's currently receiving treatment, according to his attorney.

Reached by phone, Lawrence Y. Bitterman said Haziq Shah is scheduled to complete his stint in rehab in March. Afterward, Shah will turn himself in to South Brunswick police, he said.

Bitterman, who was retained in late November, says South Brunswick police are aware that Shah is in treatment. He declined to confirm the specific type of rehabilitation program Shah is enrolled in.

"He has no intention of fleeing," Bitterman said. "He wants to make restitution, and I know he is very sorry for these crimes."

County authorities have charged Shah with burglary, theft and criminal mischief in connection to the November theft of what investigators said was "several hundred dollars" from the Islamic Center of Central Jersey on Route 1.

Shah allegedly entered the mosque at approximately 7:30 p.m. and spent approximately 45 minutes cutting into a sheetrock wall to get to the donation box, while worshipers walked past unaware. Police later released images from surveillance video of a man thought to be Shah in the mosque at the time the crime occurred.

Authorities have said that the theft may be linked to multiple others at Middlesex County mosques. But police have stressed that Shah has so far only been charged with the South Brunswick theft.

Asked about the details of Shah's proposed surrender, South Brunswick police spokesperson Lt. James Ryan said Shah is still considered a fugitive. Department investigators continue to actively search for him, he added.

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Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.