TOPEKA – The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help in locating two wanted fugitives known for alleged jewelry store sleight-of-hand, according to a statement from the Ageney.
Authorities are looking for 53-year-old Vasile Sava and 54-year-old Onita Rostas. Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married and may be using different aliases.
In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants issued by the United States District Court, District of Kansas, after they were charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property between states.
According to an FBI statement, Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, had attacked several jewelry stores. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees, while another would remove the jewelry on display, hide it and ultimately make off with jewelry. The FBI calls this practice a sleight of hand diversion theft.
The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to sell, prosecutors said.
The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun’s in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.
The couple may live in or operate in multiple states, including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland and Virginia.
It is unknown if the couple has any ties to the Kansas City area.
Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact a law enforcement agency, or contact the FBI directly this tip website