International Jewel Thieves Hit Bridgeview Jewelry Store: Cops

BRIDGEVIEW, IL -- An arrest warrant has been issued for a woman who is said to be part of an international ruse shoplifting crew that hit a Bridgeview jewelry store last month. A Bridgeview detective was in court this week seeking an arrest warrant for Florica Maruntelu, 32, on a charge of retail theft. She and her fellow crew members are believed to have left the country.

According to the detective, Maruntelu and two other people entered a jewelry store in the 7200 block of West 87th Street on Feb. 19. Maruntelu and the other man and woman took turns talking and distracting the clerk. When the clerk wasn’t looking, the detective said Maruntelu and her accomplices pocketed $87,000 worth of jewelry.

Maruntelu and her pals pulled similar ruses in Iowa where large amounts of jewelry were heisted, the detective said. Bridgeview police were able to develop information about the suspects from police in Ames and Oskaloosa. The detective said a witness in Iowa identified Maruntelu and the other woman from video surveillance. The Iowa witness could not identify the man. The clerk from the Bridgeview jewelry store was also able to identify Maruntelu from a photo array.

The trio have connections in Maryland and New York, and may be driving a silver Nissen with Maryland license plates. The detective said they received information that Maruntelu and her fellow crew members are believed to have left the country from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

There is not enough evidence for warrants against the other woman and man at this time, according to information from police. The judge issued a $100,000 warrant for Maruntelu’s arrest.

Anyone with information about Maruntelu’s whereabouts or the thefts is asked to call Bridgeview Police at 708-924-8044.