The Del Rey Oaks Police Department announced that two suspects had been arrested for an elderly abuse scam. Authorities say two individuals worked together to try to distract and steal a wallet from an elderly victim in the parking lot of Safeway on December 14, 2023.

Good Samaritans were able to intervene and prevent the suspects from stealing the victim’s wallet. After officers and investigators with the Del Rey Oaks Police Department identified the suspects and their vehicle, a TRAK flier was disseminated across the Monterey Peninsula and Santa Clara area.

Los Gatos investigators located the suspect vehicle and began conducting extensive surveillance. As a result, both suspects were taken into custody without incident. Del Rey Oaks detectives reached the scene and took custody of the suspect who are identified as 40-year-old Loredana Iftimia and 31-year-old Vasile Mreana.

Authorities say Iftimia and Mreana are career criminals with lengthy criminal histories. They were booked into the Monterey County Jail for Conspiracy and Elder Abuse/Theft.