(Photo – Pasadena Police Department)
PASADENA – ColoradoBoulevard.net:
Officers from the Pasadena Police Department responded to a series of seven similar robberies over the last six months. They identified and arrested two suspects this week.
By News Desk
On July 29, 2021, on the 400 block of S. Los Robles Ave. in Pasadena suspects drove alongside a Hispanic male when a female suspect passenger offered to pray and provide blessings. Distracted by the blessing, the suspects removed money from the victim’s wallet.
On September 28, 2021, on Raymond Ave. at Villa St. suspects who were in a vehicle, claimed to be of a religious faith and distracted a Hispanic male victim with fake jewelry while removing money from his wallet.
On October 10, 2021, on the 500 block of E. Villa St. suspects placed an elderly Hispanic male victim in a vehicle and removed money from his pockets while partaking in a prayer session.
On October 13, 2021, called to Marengo Ave. at Washington Blvd. a Hispanic female was waiting at a bus stop at Marengo Ave. and Washington Blvd. when the suspects drove up offering blessings while removing money from her purse.
On November 8, 2021, suspects drove up to a Hispanic male at a bus stop near Allen Ave. at Villa St., and while mentioning information about a charitable donation, presented a firearm and removed money from the victim’s pockets.
On March 11, 2022, suspects drove up to a Hispanic male as he walked along the sidewalk in the 300 block of E. Orange Grove Blvd. They distracted the victim with religious blessing while removing his money and jewelry.
A short time later, officers responded to the 300 block of E. Villa Street regarding another theft. The suspects pulled up in a gray SUV alongside a Hispanic female who was sitting near the street corner, and forcibly took personal property from her. Investigating officers located surveillance video which captured a partial license plate of a possible suspect vehicle, allowing detectives to further their investigation.
Arrest
On March 23, 2022, Pasadena Robbery/Major Crimes Detectives followed up on the vehicle information and determined it frequented an address in the City of Baldwin Park. Detectives located the gray SUV parked near a Baldwin Park motel and learned occupants in one of the motel rooms matched the suspect descriptions from the multiple Pasadena thefts/robberies.
Detectives contacted the occupants and detained two adults in the motel room. A search warrant for the motel room was obtained and a search led to the discovery of money and identifiable stolen property from Pasadena victims. 28-year-old Pamela Linu and 33- year-old Gheorghe Aronel were subsequently taken into custody while their 8-year-old son was taken into protective custody by Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The investigation revealed the suspects are part of an extensive organized crime ring targeting victims across multi-jurisdictions and possibly across several states.
Charges
On March 25, 2022, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and filed three counts of robbery against both suspect Linu and suspect Aronel. Their bail has been set at $150,000 each.
Pasadena Police Department is urging anyone with information about this case to provide it.
- Call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241,
- Report anonymously to “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477),
- Download the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP onto your smartphone, or
- Use the website lacrimestoppers.org.
Edited by Ann Hunnewell
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