Fairfax County police are asking for help tracking down a 21-year-old Baltimore woman they say pulled off a slick jewelry scam on shoppers all over the county on March 20. Investigators allege the suspect, identified as Cristina Milhaela Paun, approached people in parking lots, distracted them, and quietly swapped out their real necklaces and bracelets for cheap costume pieces. Detectives say surveillance footage and license-plate-reader hits led them to a suspect vehicle that was later stopped in Delaware.
Paun is accused in several incidents that same day, including reported thefts in Springfield, Chantilly, Herndon and Franconia, according to WJLA. In one case, a woman returning a shopping cart was reportedly hugged and handed a fake ring while her necklace was quietly removed. Detectives are still combing through surveillance video and believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
How the ruse worked
Police describe the scheme as a classic distraction theft. One person gets in close, holding the victim’s hands, asking for directions, or going in for a quick hug. While the victim is distracted, jewelry is slipped off and replaced with a counterfeit piece that looks convincing at first glance…