Two people suspected of a series of “quick-change” jewelry thefts targeting senior citizens in San Ramon and elsewhere in the Bay Area were detained by police after their car apparently tripped an Automated License Plate Reader, alerting officers to their presence.
Police detained the suspects during a traffic stop at Crow Canyon Road and Reedland Circle around 3:15 p.m. Monday after detectives developed a lead stemming from another San Ramon theft that took place on Sunday (January 16, 2022). During that incident, the female suspect called a 74-year-old woman over toward her vehicle and placed costume jewelry on the victim. When the victim refused the items, the suspect removed a valuable piece of jewelry and left the decoy jewelry behind.
During yesterday’s traffic stop, Officers contacted Alex Ghiocel, 24, and Elena Gunici, 21, of Fullerton inside the vehicle along with their two-year-old child. Following the officer’s investigation, Ghiocel and Gunici were arrested and booked on multiple felony charges, including Grand Theft (Penal Code 487), Theft from an Elder/Dependent Adult (Penal Code 368(d)(1)), and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime (Penal Code 182(a)(1)).
The child was subsequently released to a family member.
Ghiocel and Gunici have been positively identified by at least one San Ramon victim, and Detectives are working on their connection to previous San Ramon cases.
This is the tenth “quick-change” style jewelry theft reported to the San Ramon Police Department since late November of 2021. In every case, a female suspect approached an elderly victim (between 60 and 86 years old) who was outside and often alone. The suspects used confusion and sleight-of-hand techniques to remove the victim’s jewelry before fleeing in a waiting vehicle.
Crime fighting technology paying off…nice catch!
Ah, yes, the moneygrubbing mesmers of San Ramon. In custody. Avoid eye-contact if possible.
Is it possible there’s more than one group doing this/??
One thing we’ve learned in this business, Kaye, is that anything is possible…
Romanians? https://newsantaana.com/two-romanians-arrested-for-garden-grove-robberies-that-targeted-the-elderly/
i.e Gypsies. I’ve seen them in Fremont and Pleasanton near Trader Joe’s and near Target in San Ramon. Some older people will play music for money. Once I saw a bunch of women with kids load in into a van driven by a large guy. Probably panhandling.
They are Roma people from Northern India who don’t actually have a country and are nomads. Romanians are people from Romania, a country in Europe.
To say they are from Northern India is like saying we are all from Eastern Africa. The Roma came to Europe 1500 years ago.
Never said they are Indians. I don’t assume anything about their nationality. But Roma people are an ethnic group that originated in Norberth India. And that is a fact!!!! Do some research!
Stop spreading lies Dan..
I am actually Romanian and these people are Romas. If you don’t know history please go and study some more. Romanian and gypsies are not the same. Romas have no country!!! They are nomads which means they move around but they do originate from Northern India! Not spreading lies, just facts. That’s where they originate from (go and do your research). I hate the fact that ignorant people are putting us all in the same boat.
Having no country, I just pointed to their starting point.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rom
I thought we were looking for South Asians in an SUV????
They are Roma people from North India.
I’m pretty sure they call San Ramon home now. Roma? Ramon? I think the scourge of tourists in Europe and down and out boxing promoters in Snatch may be misunderstood San Ramon jewelry fanciers.
San Ramonians?
There is no such thing as Roma ppl from North india..Its like saying we are all from africa
They have no country (nomads) hence the fact that I pointed out where they originated!
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rom
And just to be clear – Roma people are an ethnic group, and I was not talking about their nationality! Saying that they are Romanians is assuming you know their nationality. I never said their are Indians, Romanians, or Americans. I just pointed out that this ethnic group originated in Northern India and that is a fact. Thank you!
great job SRPD and LPR is a fantastic tool.
Ima thinking there are a couple of groups at work here.
The surname Ghiocel is most frequent in Romania
Nice bust and I hope they get whats coming to them – if not here on earth then when they go to meet their maker. The lowest of the low.
Where were they staying?
Out ahead of everyone else again. Nice work news people!
Why, thank you kindly!