Pickpocket Crew Busted in SF Chinatown

San Francisco police said May 19 that officers arrested three men accused of working as a coordinated pickpocket crew in Chinatown after theft reports began rising in early April. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office said the men — Stefan Ruset, 35, Marian Constantine, 30, and Florin Matei, 26, all of Vallejo — were charged the next day in connection with a series of incidents in the neighborhood. Police said officers recovered stolen property during the arrests and later found more property and more than $14,000 in cash in a search of a Vallejo residence. The case centers on a tourist-heavy district where merchants and community members had been reporting repeated thefts to police. ### How did the investigation start in Chinatown? SFPD said reports from Chinatown merchants and community members began coming in in early April about multiple pickpocket and theft incidents across the neighborhood. Police said one victim lost about $4,000 in property. The department said Central Station officers assigned to the Chinatown foot beat worked with local merchants and community members as the investigation developed. (sanfranciscopolice.org) The police department said citywide plainclothes officers, backed by the Real Time Investigation Center, identified a suspect vehicle and three people believed to be tied to the thefts after what it described as a weeks-long investigation. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' office said the investigation remained active even after charges were filed. (sanfranciscopolice.org) ### What do police say happened on May 16? Police said investigators tracked the suspect vehicle into San Francisco on May 16 using automated license plate readers and a drone unit. SFPD said the suspects parked near Chinatown and began casing pedestrians and patrons throughout the neighborhood. Video released by SFPD showed one person taking items from backpacks, purses or pockets while two others acted as lookouts and, in some instances, blocked the view with their jackets, according to police accounts carried by local outlets. (sanfranciscopolice.org) Police said plainclothes officers confirmed three separate pickpocket thefts before moving in to arrest the men. ### Who was arrested and what charges were announced? The three suspects were identified by police as Ruset, Constantine and Matei, all Vallejo residents. SFPD said they were booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of felony grand theft, felony conspiracy and misdemeanor possession of stolen property. The District Attorney's Office said May 20 that all three men had been charged with 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. (cbsnews.com) The office said the men were scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on May 20 at the Hall of Justice. (sanfranciscopolice.org) ### What was recovered after the arrests? Police said officers recovered stolen property during the May 16 operation and returned it to victims. SFPD said a search warrant executed May 17 at the suspects' Vallejo residence led to the recovery of additional stolen property and more than $14,000 in U.S. currency. Prosecutors said officers also found property linked to a 2024 pickpocket victim, along with clothing consistent with items worn during earlier thefts. (sfdistrictattorney.org) That detail, released by the district attorney's office, is one reason prosecutors said the case remains under investigation. ### What have city officials said about the case? (sanfranciscopolice.org) Police Chief Derrick Lew said in the department's release that "Criminals targeting Chinatown, or any other community in San Francisco, is simply unacceptable." Lew said he thanked Central Station officers, citywide plainclothes officers and the Real Time Investigation Center, and credited partnerships with merchants for helping produce the arrests. (sfdistrictattorney.org) Central Station Captain Christopher Del Gandio said in the same release that the case showed the importance of reporting crimes and working with officers. The district attorney's office asked anyone with information to call the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. ### What happens next in the case? (sanfranciscopolice.org) The next public step identified by prosecutors was the May 20 arraignment for Ruset, Constantine and Matei at San Francisco's Hall of Justice. As of the district attorney's May 20 release, the office said the investigation was still active and asked for additional tips from the public. (sfdistrictattorney.org) (sanfranciscopolice.org)