‘Bonnie and Clyde’ unlawful immigrant couple accused of brazen jewellery theft spree throughout 4 states
An unlawful immigrant couple dubbed “Bonnie and Clyde” by the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) allegedly turned strangers’ kindness right into a payday, stealing necklaces from aged victims in a jewellery theft spree stretching throughout 4 states.
Rudi Lacatusu, 28, and Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, Romanian nationals accused of concentrating on victims on Lengthy Island, at the moment are in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, DHS introduced Tuesday.
The pair allegedly carried out no less than 14 jewellery thefts throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, in keeping with DHS, which cited native reporting.
The stolen necklaces have been valued between $2,000 and $3,000 every.
One alleged encounter started with a seemingly harmless request for instructions.
A 73-year-old girl was standing exterior her Valley Stream, New York, house Oct. 5, when a gold Mitsubishi with a person and girl inside pulled up, Nassau County police stated. The feminine passenger requested the way to get to BJ’s Wholesale Membership.
After the girl helped, the passenger stepped out, requested to hug her and positioned two gold-colored necklaces round her neck, in keeping with detectives.
A short while later, the girl realized her personal gold necklace, value roughly $2,000, was gone.
Investigators linked the suspects to comparable thefts in Franklin Sq. and East Meadow. Every faces three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, police stated.
DHS stated Nassau County authorities turned the couple over to ICE after their arrests. Each entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and placement, in keeping with DHS.
“This ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ unlawful alien couple from Romania has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly finishing up greater than a dozen jewellery thefts throughout 4 states,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated.
“Due to native companions in New York, these unlawful aliens are in ICE custody and will likely be faraway from our nation.”
Mullin additionally took purpose at Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, arguing that sanctuary insurance policies put People in danger.
“If it have been as much as sanctuary politicians like Governor Kathy Hochul, these criminals can be again on the streets to rob extra People,” he stated.
DHS used the arrests to resume its criticism of New York’s sanctuary insurance policies, calling the state a “hotbed of unlawful alien crime” underneath Hochul. DHS additionally argued these insurance policies have had “disastrous penalties” past New York’s borders.
The announcement follows Operation Rotten Apple, an ICE crackdown that ran from July 27 by way of Aug. 29.
DHS stated officers arrested 2,197 unlawful immigrants throughout New York through the operation, together with individuals the division described as murderers, rapists, baby predators, drug traffickers and violent assailants.
Nassau County police initially issued the suspects look tickets directing them to court docket in Hempstead Oct. 20, in keeping with the division’s arrest announcement. DHS’ assertion Tuesday didn’t specify when ICE took custody of them.
The case prompted police to warn residents about distraction scams concentrating on aged individuals, together with strangers providing jewellery or presents, asking to wish collectively, requesting change or searching for assist with a flat tire.
Whereas a sufferer’s consideration is elsewhere, the thieves can take away jewellery straight from their physique, police warned.
Authorities urged residents to remain alert in parking heaps and outdoors grocery shops and name 911 to report suspicious exercise.
Anybody who has been focused in an analogous theft can contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
