Pickpocket Crew Busted in SF Chinatown

San Francisco police arrested three Vallejo men after a weeks-long investigation into a string of pickpocket thefts in Chinatown that began in early April, according to the police department and prosecutors. The arrests came on May 16 after investigators tracked a suspect vehicle into the city using automated license plate readers and a drone unit, police said. Officers said the group parked near Chinatown, cased pedestrians and then worked together to steal from victims while acting as lookouts. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office announced charges the next day and said the investigation is still active. ### Who was arrested, and what are they accused of doing? Stefan Ruset, 35, Marian Constantine, 30, and Florin Matei, 26, all of Vallejo, were arrested and booked into San Francisco County Jail, police said. SFPD said the three were tied to multiple reported and unreported pickpocket thefts targeting victims in Chinatown. (sanfranciscopolice.org) The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said the three men were charged in connection with a series of Chinatown pickpocketing incidents. Prosecutors said the charges included one felony count of grand theft of a person, three misdemeanor counts of grand theft of a person and one count of possession of stolen property. (sanfranciscopolice.org) ### How did the investigation unfold in Chinatown? Early April reports from Chinatown merchants and community members prompted the investigation, SFPD said. Police said officers assigned to the Chinatown foot beat, working with citywide plainclothes officers and the Real Time Investigation Center, identified the three suspects and a vehicle believed to be connected to the thefts. (sfdistrictattorney.org) On May 16, investigators tracked the vehicle as it entered San Francisco, according to police. SFPD said the suspects then parked near Chinatown and began casing patrons in the neighborhood before plainclothes officers saw them steal property from victims. ### What did police say the crew’s method looked like? (sanfranciscopolice.org) KRON4 reported that police video showed one man reaching into victims’ pockets, purses and backpacks while two others used their jackets to block the view. SFPD said the suspects acted as lookouts for one another as the thefts were carried out. Police said officers recovered stolen property during the May 16 operation and returned items to victims. (sanfranciscopolice.org) One victim had lost about $4,000 in property, according to police and prosecutors. ### What turned up after the arrests? On May 17, officers executed a search warrant at the suspects’ residence in Vallejo, police and prosecutors said. (kron4.com) Investigators recovered more stolen property and more than $14,000 in U.S. currency, according to both agencies. The district attorney’s office said officers also found property linked to a 2024 pickpocket victim and clothing consistent with items worn during earlier thefts. (sanfranciscopolice.org) Prosecutors said that finding is one reason the case remains an active investigation. ### What have police and prosecutors said publicly? (sanfranciscopolice.org) Police Chief Derrick Lew said in the department’s May 19 statement that “criminals targeting Chinatown, or any other community in San Francisco, is simply unacceptable.” Central Station Captain Christopher Del Gandio said the arrests showed “the importance of reporting all crime and working with police officers.” (sfdistrictattorney.org) District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges on May 20 and said the three men were scheduled for arraignment that day at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice. The district attorney’s office said anyone with information about the case can contact the San Francisco Police Department tip line or submit an anonymous text tip. (sfdistrictattorney.org) (sanfranciscopolice.org)