Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Scam Arrests Lead to Recovery of Money
| Nature of Incident: | Scam Arrests Lead to Recovery of Money | ||||
| Report Number: | 23-150129 | ||||
| Location: | 690 N. Ventura Avenue, Oak View | ||||
| Date & Time: | November 24, 2023 @ 10:03 AM | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ojai Patrol Station/Ojai Detective Bureau | ||||
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (A-1) Constantin Miclescu (A-2) Laura Stan |
Coventry, England Seattle, Washington |
34 39 |
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| Narrative: |
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| On November 24, 2023, deputies from the Ojai Patrol Station arrested Constantin Miclescu and Laura Stan for various charges including grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. Deputies determined Stan and Miclescu worked together to distract and confuse an elderly victim. During the distraction, Stan removed the victim’s wallet from his person and took several hundred dollars. Thanks to the quick actions of the victim, patrol deputies and detectives were able to recover and return the victim’s money. This type of scam is commonly referred to a “distraction theft.” The key to this crime is diversion and distractions. Two or more subjects will work together to divert the victim’s attention while other members of the group take the victim’s valuables, including wallet, purse, or jewelry. The theft is often not discovered until the suspects are gone. The Ojai Detective Bureau would like to remind the public to exercise general awareness to avoid being victimized. Be wary of any situations where subject(s) are aggressively soliciting financial donations or offering jewelry. It is not uncommon for scammers to manipulate and prey on the public’s generosity and religious beliefs during the holiday season. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office relies on community partnerships to achieve our mission to, “…respond to public concerns in a manner which is fair, unbiased, lawful, and promotes neighborhoods free from crime.” Together we can make a difference. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective David Boynton |
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| News Release Date: | November 30, 2023 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Boynton (805)477-7038 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Trina Newman YES NO |
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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511