Scotts Valley Police officers met with an elderly adult on Dec. 12 regarding the theft, and subsequent fraudulent use, of his debit card.
The 71-year-old victim had been at the Safeway store when a female approached him saying he had dropped a $20 bill. When the victim pulled out his wallet to check, the female suspect grabbed the wallet, shoved the $20 in it, then handed it back and walked away.
Later that day the victim received a call from his bank regarding his debit card being used by a male and female to fraudulently withdraw several thousand dollars from his account. When he checked his wallet, the victim realized his debit card had been taken during the wallet exchange.
Video obtained from Safeway and the associated banks was used to distribute images of the two suspects to neighboring police agencies, which led to the identification of Loredana Iftimia and Vasile Mreana as the suspects in this case and several others throughout the Bay Area.
Iftimia and Mreana are currently in custody facing charges of grand theft, theft from an elder adult, identity theft and fraudulent use of an access card.
Anyone who recently experienced a similar interaction should reach out to Scotts Valley Police Department at 831-440-5670.
