When a Tustin resident called 911 to report he had just been the victim of a distraction theft, numerous police officers rapidly responded to the area, according to the Tustin Police Department.
The three suspects were located as they attempted to split up in The District, but were detained before they could elude capture.
The investigation revealed the suspects had approached the unsuspecting victim as he completed a transaction at a bank ATM. The victim noticed a male was watching him from a nearby business, and after withdrawing money, two additional males approached him claiming he had dropped a $20 bill. The two males attempted to forcefully return the bill to the victim as they tried to slyly remove his debit cards from his wallet, dropping one on the ground in the process. As the suspect’s botched theft unfolded, the victim called 911 and the suspects fled the area.
Arun Ciobotaru, Constantin Alexandraie, and Viorel Agapie were identified as prolific transnational distraction thieves with dozens of open cases spanning from New York, Texas, Arizona, California, and prior convictions in Europe. The nefarious trio were booked at Orange County Jail for Conspiracy and Attempted Grand Theft.
Despite being on the lam since 2023, the trio quickly learned that crime does not pay in Orange County as a bail enhancement has prevented their release from custody, giving law enforcement time to gather the significant number of nationwide cases.
While this case had a positive end, there has been a significant increase in distraction thefts in which the suspects escape. Like this victim, be mindful of your surroundings and safeguard your personal property. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement and stay aware of crime trends as they develop.
