WESTMINSTER, Calif. (KNX) — Westminster police announced Friday the arrest of a husband and wife team suspected of using sleight of hand to steal jewelry.
Ion and Elisa Alexandru, both 27, were arrested following a decoy operation conducted by the Westminster Police Department on Wednesday.
The Anaheim couple were sitting in a parked car when a police department decoy approached. Elisa Alexandru called the decoy over and asked them to pray for her family. She displayed a $50 bill and an assortment of costume necklaces.
Elisa Alexandru allegedly placed one of the costume necklaces around the decoy’s neck and quickly removed a necklace they were already wearing. Westminster detectives watching the encounter moved in and took both suspects into custody.
The couple’s two children, a one and three-year-old, were in the vehicle at the time. The children were taken into protective custody.
Detectives have learned that the Alexandrus were suspected of a similar crime that occurred about one hour before the decoy operation. They allegedly stole a diamond ring off the hand of an elderly woman. Officers found the ring along with other pieces of jewelry in their vehicle.
Anyone who may have been a victim of the Alexandrus is asked to contact the Westminster Police Department, Detective Marcela Lopez at (714) 548-3773 to retrieve their stolen property. Anyone with information on the couple’s alleged activities is asked to call (714) 548-3212.
