A suspected jewelry theft ring tied to an illegal immigrant couple has put a spotlight on a fast-moving scam pattern that preyed on older residents across several states. The case, which officials say involved dozens of stolen necklaces and a trail that stretched from New York to Maryland, also reignited the fight over sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement.
Rudi Lacatusu, 28, and Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, Romanian nationals, are accused of targeting people on Long Island and beyond in a spree that investigators say produced at least 14 thefts. According to officials, the couple is now in ICE custody after local authorities turned them over following their arrests.
The alleged scheme had a simple but unsettling rhythm. The suspects are said to have approached victims, often older adults, with a friendly or harmless-seeming request, then used that moment of trust to make off with jewelry worth thousands of dollars.
One episode in Valley Stream reportedly began when a woman outside her home was asked for directions to a nearby warehouse club. After helping, she was allegedly hugged by the passenger and fitted with two gold-colored necklaces, only to realize shortly after that her own necklace, worth about $2,000, had vanished.
Police say similar incidents were tied to the pair in Franklin Square and East Meadow, with each suspect facing multiple grand larceny charges. The thefts were not limited to one neighborhood or one state line, which is part of what made the case so alarming for investigators watching the pattern unfold.
Officials described the stolen items as necklaces valued between $2,000 and $3,000 apiece. That kind of quick, low-noise theft can be hard to spot in the moment, especially when the target is distracted by a conversation, a request, or a gesture that looks friendly on the surface.
The Department of Homeland Security said the couple entered the United States illegally at an unknown time and place. DHS also said the case showed how local arrests can overlap with immigration enforcement when suspects are turned over to federal custody after criminal charges are filed.
Secretary Markwayne Mullin used the case to make a broader point about public safety and border policy. He said, “This ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal alien couple from Romania has been charged with grand larceny after allegedly carrying out more than a dozen jewelry thefts across four states,” and added, “Thanks to local partners in New York, these illegal aliens are in ICE custody and will be removed from our country.”
Mullin also went after Gov. Kathy Hochul, arguing that sanctuary-style policies leave room for repeat offenders to keep causing damage. He said, “If it were up to sanctuary politicians like Governor Kathy Hochul, these criminals would be back on the streets to rob more Americans,” a line that reflects the administration’s hard stance toward jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
DHS has repeatedly framed New York as a place where weak policies invite more crime, and the agency used this arrest to press that message again. In its telling, the state has become a “hotbed of illegal alien crime” under Hochul, with consequences that reach beyond the state’s borders and into neighboring communities.
The arrests also landed in the middle of a broader ICE operation that officials say was designed to catch violent offenders and other criminal migrants in New York. During that sweep, DHS said officers arrested 2,197 illegal immigrants, a number that federal officials are using to argue that aggressive enforcement makes a real difference.
For local residents, the case is less about Washington talking points and more about staying wary of the familiar little con. Police warned that distraction scams often begin with a stranger asking for directions, requesting prayer, offering jewelry, or needing help with a flat tire. Those moments can feel harmless, but they can also give a thief just enough time to snatch a chain, a ring, or a pendant before anyone notices.
That is why detectives urged people to pay close attention in parking lots, outside stores, and anywhere a stranger is trying to close the distance fast. Anyone who thinks they were targeted in a similar way is being told to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS, especially if a small encounter suddenly turned into a missing necklace and a very bad feeling.
