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A man of Romanian origin was arrested on Sunday by Martin County sheriff's deputies after being linked to a jewelry store robbery in the city of Stuart.
The detainee, identified as Marcu Rostas, 33 years old, is wanted in several U.S. states for similar offenses and was in the country illegally.
At the time of his arrest, his 10-year-old son was wearing a stolen Rolex watch on his wrist, valued at over $40,000.
During the arrest, which took place on Martin Downs Boulevard, authorities recovered over $400,000 in stolen jewelry, including high-end watches, a diamond ring, chains, and gold coins, as well as $30,000 in cash.
Some of the jewelry was hidden inside a children's stuffed animal. The suspect's youngest daughter was also wearing a stolen high-value necklace.
He was traveling with his family and using false identities
Rostas was accompanied by his wife, Natasha, and their minor children. Although the woman was not arrested at the time, Immigration Services have already made contact with her.
The suspect was carrying multiple fake identifications, and his presence in the country is illegal, according to agents from ICE, who arrived on the scene to verify his identity. Rostas was placed under a detention order for immigration purposes.
Criminal method: Distraction theft
According to the authorities, Rostas is part of an organized criminal network of distraction theft travelers, also known as "traveling gypsies."
This type of crime operates at a national level and is characterized by the use of deceptive tactics to steal valuable items without employing direct violence.
Thefts often occur in jewelry stores, retail shops, and even residences.
The members of these networks—among them women, children, and the elderly—act as a group: while some distract the victims, others take the opportunity to commit the theft in a matter of seconds. Victims often realize they have been robbed when it is already too late.
The case in Stuart and the operation in Martin County
Rostas' arrest occurred a day after the robbery at a local jewelry store in the city of Stuart, whose surveillance footage helped identify the suspect.
The detectives intercepted the vehicle in which he was traveling and proceeded with the arrest after finding the evidence that links him to the crime.
The recovered items match the items stolen from the jewelry store, according to sources from the sheriff's department.
The investigation remains open to determine if there are more individuals involved and whether the same group is connected to other similar robberies in the state of Florida or elsewhere in the country.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office issued a warning to the public and businesses, particularly jewelers: “This type of crime relies on distraction. If someone tries to divert your attention in an unusual way, proceed with caution, stay alert, and report it to the authorities.”
Rostas and other members of his network have been linked to thefts in several states.
Authorities believe that this is a roaming organization that has been operating for a while using similar methods, moving through different cities to avoid detection.
False identities, the involvement of minors, and the discreet nature of their operations make them difficult to track.
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