--- title: "Romanian couple arrested for multi‑state necklace thefts turned over to ICE" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-14T00:25:15.429Z" source_reported: "2026-10-13T23:36:36.121Z" updated: "2026-10-14T00:25:15.429Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 52 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-14T01:05:57.677Z" --- # Romanian couple arrested for multi‑state necklace thefts turned over to ICE *Nassau County police say the pair used a hug to steal gold necklaces from seniors in four states and were handed to immigration officials.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust 86: multiple named officials, official statements, dates and figures cited across two independent full reports. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains relevance, includes quotes, specific data, next steps, and clear separation of fact and comment. - Hype 52 of 100, lower is better. Hype 52: headline and language use sensational labels and clickbait tone exceeding the straightforward facts. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A Romanian couple was arrested in early October and handed to ICE after a necklace theft spree in four states. - Both were charged with three counts of fourth‑degree grand larceny. - Police say the pair asked for directions, hugged the victim and removed the necklace. - The Department of Homeland Security labelled the pair "Bonnie and Clyde" and said they will be removed. Nassau County police arrested Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, and Rudi Lacatusu, 28, in early October and transferred them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Each is charged with three counts of fourth‑degree grand larceny. Investigators linked the pair to at least 14 incidents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, targeting mainly senior citizens. According to police statements, the couple would pull over, ask a passerby for directions, and then Mirabela would exit the vehicle to thank the person with a hug. While the victim was embraced, she allegedly unclasped the necklace and the pair drove away. The stolen items were gold necklaces valued between $2,000 and $3,000 each. > “Thanks to local partners in New York, these illegal aliens are in ICE custody and will be removed from our country… If it were up to sanctuary politicians like Governor Kathy Hochul, these criminals would be back on the streets to rob more Americans.” > > — Markwayne Mullin, DHS Secretary **$2,000–$3,000** — Estimated value per stolen necklace (Police said most necklaces were gold and fell in this price range.) ## Omissions No left‑ or centre‑rated outlets ran this story, so none reported the arrests or the alleged theft method. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 100% (7) 1 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-14T01:05:57.677Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-14T04:30:38.575Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - All six right‑rated outlets reported the arrests, the multi‑state scope, and the hug‑and‑snatch method. The digests from wfmd.com, khbrknews, nytimespost.com and Fox News each led on the Department of Homeland Security’s nickname "Bonnie and Clyde" and noted the couple’s illegal‑immigrant status and ICE custody. VINnews, in its full report, detailed the victims, the $2,000 gold chain loss and quoted Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder warning residents not to accept hugs from strangers. The Gateway Pundit, also a full report, quoted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticizing sanctuary politicians and emphasized the removal intent. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 2 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/10/13/bonnie-and-clyde-illegal-immigrant-couple-accused-of-brazen-jewelry-theft-spree-across-four-states) — ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states - [khbrknews](https://khbrknews.com/bonnie-and-clyde-illegal-immigrant-couple-accused-of-brazen-jewelry-theft-spree-across-four-states) — ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/bonnie-and-clyde-illegal-immigrant-couple-accused-of-brazen-jewelry-theft-spree-across-four-states) — ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [WVII / Fox Bangor](https://foxbangor.com/news/national/bonnie-and-clyde-illegal-immigrant-couple-accused-of-brazen-jewelry-theft-spree-across-four-states/article_387d6fd6-fe4f-5ffa-8d29-ddbeea39605e.html) — ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/bonnie-clyde-illegal-immigrant-couple-accused-brazen-jewelry-theft-spree-across-four-states) — ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states - [Politics, Policy, Political News](https://politicom.com.au/ice-arrests-romanian-bonnie-and-clyde-illegal-alien-couple-after-hug-and-snatch-necklace-spree-across-four-states) — ICE Arrests Romanian ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Illegal Alien Couple After Hug-and-Snatch Necklace Spree Across Four States - Politics, Policy, Political Views - [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/10/13/romanian-couple-accused-of-multi-state-necklace-theft-spree-arrested-and-turned-over-to-ice) — Romanian Couple Accused Of Multi-State Necklace Theft Spree Arrested And Turned Over To ICE - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/10/ice-arrests-romanian-bonnie-clyde-illegal-alien-couple) — ICE Arrests Romanian ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Illegal Alien Couple After Hug-and-Snatch Necklace Spree Across Four States * The Gateway Pundit * by Cassandra MacDonald ## Questions **When were the Romanian couple arrested?** Police say the couple was arrested in early October, with one report giving the specific date of October 5th. After the arrest they were transferred to ICE for immigration proceedings. **How many theft incidents are they linked to?** Both full reports and the digests state that investigators linked the pair to at least 14 incidents across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland. **What charges do they face?** Each individual is charged with three counts of fourth‑degree grand larceny, reflecting the alleged theft of gold necklaces from senior victims. **What did the Department of Homeland Security call the couple?** DHS officials referred to the pair as "Bonnie and Clyde" in statements that appeared in the full reports and were echoed by the right‑leaning outlets. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Romanian couple arrested for multi‑state necklace thefts turned over to ICE", https://mediabias.news/conflict/romanian-couple-arrested-for-multistate-necklace-thefts-turned-over-to-ice