Two Romanian nationals were arrested Monday in a scam that allegedly involved hugs as a ruse to steal expensive jewelry right off victims’ necks on Long Island, according to police.
According to detectives, a 73-year-old victim in Valley Stream reported that a male and a female in a Mitsubishi pulled up to her and asked for directions to a BJ’s Wholesale Club. The victim helped them, and the woman in the vehicle got out to hug her, purportedly in appreciation.
The woman also placed two gold-colored necklaces around the victim’s neck before driving away, officials say.
A short time later, the victim noticed her real gold necklace, valued around $2,000, had been removed from her neck, according to detectives.
The suspects are both in their 20s and tied to the same address in Ontario.
Detectives also determined they were tied to similar incidents in Franklin Square and East Meadow.
Each is charged with three counts of grand larceny. Attorney information for them wasn’t immediately available.
Anyone who feels they may have been victimized in a similar scam should call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
0 Comments