The Fairfax County Police Department is looking for a Baltimore woman they accuse of committing several jewelry thefts via sleight of hand.
Cristina Paun, 21, is accused of involvement in two thefts on March 20. The police have obtained a warrant against her for felony pickpocketing and robbery, though they did not specify Ms. Paun’s alleged role in either incident.
The first occurred at 1:30 p.m. in the 6900 block of Hechinger Drive in Springfield, when a white SUV pulled up next to the victim in a parking lot.
A woman is alleged to have started talking with the victim about jewelry, beckoning her forward and putting a ring on the victim’s finger before hugging her. The woman is then alleged to have put a necklace on the victim while removing the victim’s own necklace, police said.
After that, the white SUV pulled away, at which point the victim realized what had happened.
The second incident linked to Ms. Paun happened at 3:30 p.m. in the 12900 block of Wood Crescent Circle near Herndon.
A victim was approached by a woman while she was walking. The woman told the victim that it was her birthday and gave the victim a hug before giving her a fake ring. The police alleged that the woman took the victim’s necklace and then went back to the white SUV and left the area.
Detectives looking at surveillance footage identified the car as a white 2026 Toyota Highlander and put out a nationwide bulletin. Fairfax County police said that the Delaware State Police found and stopped the SUV on March 21, and that Ms. Paun was one of the people inside.
She was not taken into custody at that time, and Fairfax County police are now looking for Ms. Paun. In addition, they are looking for suspects, as of yet unidentified, in two other similar incidents on March 20.
At 1:30 p.m. in the 13900 block of Metrotech Drive in Chantilly, a victim was approached by people in a black SUV.
While a passenger in the front seat asked the victim for directions, another passenger in the back put a fake gold necklace on the victim while stealing the real gold necklace they were already wearing, police said.
The SUV then left the scene before the victim realized what happened.
Finally, a victim was approached by a black SUV at 3:55 p.m. in the 6800 block of Commerce Street in Franconia.
A woman riding as a passenger, described as being about 50 years old with red hair and gold teeth, tried to offer the victim jewelry. The woman put jewelry, which the victim recognized as costume jewelry, around the victim’s neck, while also holding her hand, police said.
At the same time, the rear passenger in the black SUV, described as a roughly 25-year-old woman wearing a headscarf, began talking to the victim.
The SUV then left the area, at which point the victim realized her necklace and bracelets had been taken and replaced with said costume jewelry, police said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ms. Paun or the circumstances of any of the alleged thefts is asked to call 703-478-0904 to speak with detectives. Alternatively, police said, people can submit anonymous tips at 866-411-8477 or online.
