Three Arrested in La Puente Necklace Switch Theft Targeting Elderly

Three people were taken into custody after investigators say they used a scripted necklace swap to steal an elderly man’s gold jewelry in La Puente. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspects as 25-year-old Ionut Constantin, 24-year-old Antratida Barbu and 45-year-old Monalisa Stoian; authorities reported the theft occurred March 2 and the arrests were made the following day, March 3, with the arrest announcement posted March 4.

Deputies say a 2017 black Ford Explorer pulled up in front of the victim’s residence on the 500 block of Mayland Avenue, near Temple Avenue and Bassett High School. Occupants called to the victim and asked for directions to a local church. A front passenger exited the vehicle, approached the man and "placed a fake gold necklace on his neck, simultaneously removing his real gold necklace," investigators said, then returned to the SUV and fled. The vehicle’s plate was reported as ED73E54 and described in some reports as a California temporary plate.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has described the suspects as a "traveling theft crew" and is urging anyone who may have encountered similar incidents to come forward. Authorities list Detective Marquez at the Industry Station Detective Bureau as the contact point for this case; the phone number provided is 626-330-3322. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or use the P3 Tips mobile app or the Crime Stoppers website to submit information.

Reporting on custody and court logistics lists Barbu and Stoian as being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility and Constantin at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, with Constantin reportedly on a hold related to a warrant from the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office. All three were scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court on Thursday, March 5, as they remain booked on suspicion of grand theft from an elder and elder abuse.

A minor discrepancy in initial accounts concerns the street name; most local reports and LASD references use Mayland Avenue, while one outlet spelled it Maryland Avenue. Another inconsistency appeared in one dispatch that briefly described the victim as a woman, though the consolidated details from investigators describe an elderly man as the victim. Authorities encourage anyone who recognizes the suspects, the 2017 black Ford Explorer or the plate ED73E54 to contact Detective Marquez or Crime Stoppers so investigators can determine whether there are additional victims throughout L.A. County.