'Bait-And-Switch' Thief Stole Rolex: Police

VERNON HILLS, IL — A 25-year-old man was charged with felony theft after allegedly shorting the seller of a watch by more than $5,000 in a sale arranged online. Cristian Daniel Constantinescu met a man who had offered to sell a Rolex for $5,500 on the website OfferUp at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills on Oct. 15, police said.

The men exchanged the watch and the cash, but then Constantinescu allegedly told the man he would put the money in an envelope and the victim handed him back the money, according to Vernon Hills police.

Constantinescu then returned an envelope filled with cash and the left the mall, police said.

The victim later told police he discovered the envelope was stuffed with mainly one-dollar bills and only had about $150 in it.

Nine days later, police said they learned that Constantinescu was "possibly going to conduct another transaction" in an unspecified western suburb and arrested him. Vernon Hills police said they don't know where he lives.

Constaninescu has been charged with class 3 felony theft, which carries a maximum sentence of two to five years in prison. He's currently being held at Lake County jail on $250,000 bond ahead of an appearance court appearance in Waukegan Friday.

Police reminded everyone to be careful while conducting Internet-related deals. The Vernon Hills police facility has been designated as an Internet Transaction Safe Zone to help citizens and is available 24-hours-a-day for conducting such transactions. More information regarding the Internet Transaction Safe Zone can be found by calling 847-247-4889.

_{Top photo: Cristian Daniel Constantinescu booking photograph | Vernon Hills PD}