Elderly woman robbed in violent daytime crime in San Francisco

San Francisco Police are warning senior citizens in the Bay Area of jewelry robbery schemes after an elderly woman was viciously attacked and robbed in broad daylight of her necklace. The message from law enforcement follows the arrest of two suspects.

The San Francisco Police Department said 37-year-old Ludovic-Iustinian Ceausu and 41-year-old Claudia Voinescu were arrested following a string of strong-arm crimes throughout the Bay Area involving a suspect on either foot or in a car who approaches victims on the street and takes their valuables, per the press release.

Police said perpetrators are believed to “often travel around the region and sometimes from overseas, approach unsuspecting victims and engage them in conversation.” Their target in many of the cases has been senior citizens, per SFPD.

The suspects “often operate as part of a larger criminal enterprise targeting victims wearing visible jewelry, while using deceptive tactics to steal a victim’s valuables,” it added.

One such incident occurred on March 20 during a recent robbery abatement operation when plainclothed officers observed Ceausu and Voinescu in a white BMW SUV “approaching multiple individuals wearing jewelry, attempting to engage them in conversation,” per police.

SFDP said they believed the two were casing the Richmond area for people to rob. 

Video from the operation showed the suspects speaking with an elderly woman near the corner of 17th Avenue and Cabrillo Street, who was clinging to her purse. 

During the interaction, a passenger in the car interacts with the victim and appears to place jewelry around the elderly victim’s neck.

Police said the robbery occurs when the suspects “offer the victim a necklace or other item”’ and then will “remove a victim’s valuables as they place the fake gift on the unsuspecting individual.”

In the clip, the older woman attempts to wave off the suspect, before the passenger appears to “forcibly steal the victim’s jewelry,” per SFPD. The suspects then fled the scene.

Police spoke to the older lady who told officers she had just been robbed. 

With the help of a Drone as First Responder (DFR), officers were able to track and locate the suspects vehicle. Using a spike strip, their car was stopped and the suspects were taken into custody without incident. 

Police said a search of the suspect’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of additional pieces of jewelry, “US and foreign currency, along with the decoy necklace used” in the robbery.

Both suspects have been charged with several counts, including robbery, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, grand theft, and elder abuse. 

The police department said the investigation is ongoing and is urging residents and visitors to be aware of the robbery schemes. 

“If a stranger approaches you and attempts to make physical contact or offer a gift, step away and alert them that you are calling the police,” the release read.

The department is also asking loved ones to speak to their older family members, particularly seniors, about what’s happening so they can protect themselves.