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San Francisco cops busted an alleged pickpocket ring accused of targeting unsuspecting Chinatown shoppers in a dramatic takedown caught on video after investigators tracked the suspects for weeks through the city.
Footage released by the San Francisco Police Department showed plainclothes officers swooping in to arrest an alleged pickpocket crew accused of preying on Chinatown victims following a weeks-long investigation.
The arrests came after a string of pickpocket and theft incidents that have rattled the neighborhood since early April, according to SFPD. Police said Chinatown merchants and community members had reported multiple thefts across the area, including one victim who lost roughly $4,000 worth of property.
With help from local merchants and residents, officers assigned to the Chinatown foot beat identified three suspects believed to be tied to both reported and unreported thefts in the neighborhood, police said.
“Criminals targeting Chinatown, or any other community in San Francisco, is simply unacceptable,” SFPD Chief Derrick Lew said in a statement.
“I want to thank members of the Central Station for their continued partnership with the merchants to demonstrate the highest level of community policing that keeps our city and Chinatown safe. Thank you to all the officers involved, including our citywide plainclothes and our Real Time Investigation Center, for the work that led to these great arrests.”
Investigators later identified a suspect vehicle and the three men allegedly connected to the theft spree.
On May 16, investigators tracked the vehicle entering San Francisco using Automated License Plate Readers and a drone unit, police said. The suspects then parked near Chinatown and allegedly began casing patrons throughout the neighborhood before officers moved in.
The three suspects arrested were identified as Stefan Ruset, 35, of Vallejo, Marian Constantine, 30, of Vallejo, and Florin Matei, 26, of Vallejo.
All three were booked into the San Francisco County Jail on felony grand theft and conspiracy charges, as well as misdemeanor possession of stolen property charges.
Police said officers recovered stolen property during the operation and returned it to the victims.
The investigation continued the next day when officers executed a search warrant at the suspects’ Vallejo residence on May 17.
During the raid, investigators recovered additional stolen property, more than $14,000 in cash, property tied to a 2024 pickpocket victim, and clothing that police said matched items worn during previous thefts.
“I am proud of our officers and community for working together to keep Chinatown safe,” Central Station Captain Christopher Del Gandio said.
“The result of our continued partnership demonstrates the importance of reporting all crime and working with police officers.”
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