Two Romanian nationals were arrested Monday on Long Island in a scam that allegedly involved hugging in order to steal expensive jewelry from the victims’ necks, according to police.
According to detectives, a 73-year-old victim in Valley Stream reported that a man and woman in a Mitsubishi pulled up to her and asked her for directions to a BJ’s Wholesale Club. The victim helped them and the woman in the car got out and hugged her, allegedly out of gratitude.
The woman also placed two gold necklaces around the victim’s neck before driving away, officials said.
A short time later, the victim discovered a real gold necklace worth approximately $2,000 had been taken from her neck, according to detectives.
The suspects, Mirabela Lacatusu and Rudi Lacatusu, are both in their 20s and live at the same address in Ontario.
Detectives also determined they were connected to similar incidents in Franklin Square and East Meadow.
Each was charged with three counts of grand larceny. Information about their attorneys was not immediately available.
Anyone who thinks they may have been the victim of a similar scam should call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.