Baltimore County police recover $14,000 in stolen jewelry after Catonsville necklace snatchings

More than 150 pieces of jewelry, valued at over $14,000, were recovered after Baltimore County police arrested three people accused of repeatedly snatching necklaces in Catonsville, a run of thefts that stretched from January 6 through April 9 and hit busy stretches of Baltimore National Pike and Frederick Road.

Detectives assigned to Precinct 1 - Wilkens said the case involved seven robberies or thefts tied to the same pattern. The incidents were reported in the 5500 block, 6500 block and 6600 block of Baltimore National Pike, along with the 900 block of Frederick Road. Police said the suspects used distraction tactics, approaching victims while asking for directions or offering a blessing, then moving close enough to forcibly remove necklaces before fleeing in a vehicle.

Police identified the suspects as Mihail Alexandru, 20, Versalona Nicu, 26, and Mihaela Alexandru, 23. County police said the three were transported to the Baltimore County Detention Center and held without bail, with charges pending. In one April 9 case, officers said a necklace valued at about $5,000 was taken and not recovered, a reminder that even when a broader stash is seized, a single gold piece can still disappear into the street economy.

The recovered jewelry tells its own story: 150 pieces pulled from circulation after repeated strikes in the same neighborhood. That kind of pattern should sharpen attention around visible chains, especially on sidewalks and in parking lots where a quick step-in, a sudden question, or a too-friendly blessing can become the setup for a grab. When someone closes distance without a clear reason, keep moving, put space between you and the person, and do not turn a conversation into a closer encounter.

If a gold necklace is stolen, file a police report immediately, note the exact location, time, and description of the chain, and preserve any photos showing the piece on your neck or in a jewelry box. Keep receipts, appraisals, and insurance records together so the karat, weight, clasp, and setting are documented before a claim is filed. Detectives asked anyone who may have been in contact with the suspects to call 410-887-4636, as the Catonsville case now stands as a warning that these thefts were not isolated but repeated, organized, and recoverable only after police traced the pattern.