Chino police say a sweet gesture turned into a painful robbery for one elderly woman, after a pair of suspected thieves used a distraction trick to steal her jewelry. Officers report that the suspects handed the woman flowers, slipped a fake necklace around her neck, then made off with her real chain. In the struggle, the woman was pushed, fell, and suffered injuries.
The Chino Police Department identified the suspects as 38-year-old Cezar Vasile and 38-year-old Mirabela Ene, who were both booked on robbery charges, according to NBC Los Angeles. Investigators say the duo pulled up in a white Jeep SUV in front of the victim before the theft. Detectives later tracked them to Anaheim, where they recovered evidence they believe is tied to the incident.
Wider Pattern Across Southern California
Police say this is not an isolated con. Across Southern California, law enforcement agencies have been warning about similar distraction-theft schemes that tend to zero in on older adults and hop from…..