Mother-daughter duo sought in $100K jewelry heist at Watsonville store
WATSONVILLE – Authorities in Santa Cruz County are searching for a mother-daughter duo suspected in a $100,000 jewelry heist at a store in Watsonville that was captured on camera.
According to Watsonville Police, 53-year-old Onita Rostas and 30-year-old Steluta Lacatus are wanted in the theft, which took place at a store on the 300 block of Main Street on Sept. 11.
The suspects claimed to be from Spain and were interested in purchasing gifts for their family. Using distraction techniques, police said they were able to steal jewelry worth more than $100,000.
Police have released video of the theft.
Detectives identify mother-daughter duo suspected of stealing more than $100,000 from local jewelry storeAn ongoing investigation involving regional, federal, and international authorities has led Watsonville Police Department Detectives to identify two women suspected of stealing more than $100,000 from a local jewelry store. The mother-daughter duo, 53-year-old Onita Rostas and 30-year-old Steluta Lacatus, are wanted throughout the United States by the FBI, Secret Service and have landed on the International Criminal Police Organization’s radar due to their connection to organized crime. On September 11, these thieves entered a jewelry store on the 300 block of Main Street and used distraction techniques to get away with thousands of dollars of jewelry. They claimed to be from Spain and were interested in purchasing gifts for their family. A Santa Cruz County Judge has issued warrants for their arrest. However, we anticipate it won't be easy to locate them. We want to warn our community to be vigilant for these types of tactics used to victimize businesses. 𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗔Ñ𝗢𝗟 Una investigación en curso que involucra a autoridades regionales, federales e internacionales ha llevado a los detectives del Departamento de Policía de Watsonville a identificar a dos mujeres sospechosas de robar más de $100,000 en una joyería local. El dúo de madre e hija, Onita Rostas, de 53 años, y Steluta Lacatus, de 30, son buscadas en todo Estados Unidos por el FBI, el Servicio Secreto y han caído en el radar de la Organización Internacional de Policía Criminal debido a su conexión con organizaciones criminales. El 11 de septiembre, estas ladronas entraron a una joyería en la cuadra 300 de Main Street y utilizaron técnicas de distracción para escapar con miles de dólares en joyas. Afirmaron ser de España y estaban interesadas en comprar regalos para su familia. Un juez del Condado de Santa Cruz emitió órdenes de arresto contra ellas. Sin embargo, anticipamos que no será fácil localizarlas. Queremos advertir a nuestra comunidad que esté atenta a este tipo de tácticas utilizadas para victimizar a los negocios.
Posted by Watsonville Police Department on Thursday, November 16, 2023
"We want to warn our community to be vigilant for these types of tactics used to victimize businesses," police said Thursday.
A judge in Santa Cruz County has issued arrest warrants for Rostas and Lacatus. Police said the pair are wanted by multiple agencies, including the FBI, Secret Service and Interpol due to their connection to organized crime.