Police Warn Of Jewelry Robbery Schemes Across Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Police are warning community members of robbers targeting senior citizens in the Bay Area for their jewelry.

The suspects, according to the San Francisco Police Department, use deceptive tactics to steal jewelry, such as offering a victim a necklace and removing the jewelry while placing the fake gift on.

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The latest incident happened on March 20, when a pair of suspects in a white SUV stole a necklace from a woman in the area of 17th Street and Cabrillo Avenue in San Francisco, authorities said.

Video released by the SFPD shows a white SUV approaching a woman, who appears to talk with someone inside the car.

A person in the back passenger seat of the car sticks their head out the window, reaches over at the woman’s neck and takes her gold necklace, according to the video and police.

Officers were already tailing the vehicle when the suspects took off the jewelry. After deploying spike strips on the car, officers took two suspects into custody on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, grand theft, elder abuse, possession of counterfeit items with the intent to defraud and possession of burglary tools, police said.

During the arrest, officers found additional jewelry, US and foreign currency, along with the decoy necklace used in the strong-arm robbery, police said.

Police identified the suspects as 41-year-old Claudia Voinescu and 37-year-old Ludovic-Iustinian Ceausu. Voinescu also had an outstanding warrant for larceny at the time of the arrest, police said.

Police say the suspects involved in these schemes are often part of a larger criminal organization. In some cases, the suspects travel from overseas to engage in these schemes, police said.

"If a stranger approaches you and attempts to make physical contact or offer a gift, step away and alert them that you are calling the police," the SFPD said. "Anyone who suspects they have been targeted should immediately contact the police."