SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that Stefan Ruset (35), Marian Constantine (30), and Florin Matei (26), all of Vallejo, California, have been convicted after a trial by jury in connection to a series of pickpocketing incidents in Chinatown.
The three men were convicted of one felony count of Grand Theft of a Person (PC 487(c)), one felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft, and three misdemeanor counts of Grand Theft of a Person (PC 487(c)). As to the felony Grand Theft, the jury also found true the allegation that the three men worked in concert with one another.
“I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “The days of people coming to San Francisco to target our residents and visitors with impunity ended long ago. My office remains committed to holding those accountable who commit crime in our city.”
According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, since April of this year, SFPD received reports from Chinatown merchants and the community regarding multiple pickpocket and theft incidents across the neighborhood. On April 21, 2026, an 84-year-old woman reported money missing from her wallet after a civilian alerted her that three suspicious men were closely following her. On May 10, 2026, another victim reported that $4,000 was missing from her purse after three men were closely following her too. On May 16, 2026, investigators tracked the suspect vehicle entering San Francisco using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and a drone unit operated by the Real Time Investigation Center (RTIC). The suspects parked a vehicle near Chinatown and began casing patrons throughout the neighborhood. Citywide plainclothes officers observed the group working together to steal property from victims while acting as lookouts for one another. The officers ultimately arrested all three men. During the operation, officers recovered the stolen property and returned it to the victims.
On May 17, 2026, officers executed a search warrant at the suspects’ residence in Vallejo, resulting in the recovery of more stolen property and more than $14,000 of U.S. currency. Officers also discovered stolen property that was reported stolen on the May 10th theft, including a distinctive poker chip, and clothing consistent with items worn by the defendants during the previous theft.
This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joseph La Herran, with invaluable assistance from paralegal Andres Hernandez-Ruano, District Attorney Investigators Sven Hamilton, Michael Beaver, George Koutsoubos, and Richard Niven, and IT support from Noaeh Pinaire. Victim Advocate Wesley Chu worked closely with victims and witnesses throughout the pendency of this case.
“This was a team effort in holding these defendants accountable for their actions” said Assistant District Attorney Joseph La Herran. “The defendants in this case went to the same place, followed the same plan, targeted the same victims, and stole the same thing over and over again. A thorough investigation and the latest surveillance technology allowed the jury to watch the defendants commit their crimes in real time and it paved the way to find the defendants guilty as charged. For that, I am grateful.”
The next court date is Friday October 9th for a bench trial on the factor in aggravation related to the felony charges. Sentencing will be calendared after October 9th.
Court Numbers: Ruset, 26011319, Constantine, 26011310, Matei, 26011315.
###
***新聞稿***
三名Vallejo市男子因涉嫌華埠連環扒竊案，被裁定多項重大竊盜罪成立
加州三藩市 – 三藩市地區檢察官謝安宜（ Brooke Jenkins）今日宣布，來自加州Vallejo 市的男子 Stefan Ruset（35歲）、Marian Constantine（30歲）及 Florin Matei（26歲），因涉嫌與華埠一系列扒竊事件，經陪審團審判後被裁定有罪。
三人各被裁定一項由他人身上竊取財物的重大竊盜重罪（加州刑法PC 487(c)）、一項共謀重大竊盜重罪、三項由他人身上竊取財物重大竊盜輕罪（加州刑法PC 487(c)）成立。針對重大竊盜重罪，陪審團亦認定三人相互協同行動的指控屬實。
地方檢察官謝安宜表示：「我要感謝陪審團在本次審判中的付出。那些來到三藩市、對本市居民及遊客下手卻能逍遙法外的日子，早已結束。本辦公室一如既往誓要追究在本市犯罪者的責任。」
根據庭審中提出的證詞及其他證據，自今年 4 月起，三藩市警察局（SFPD）陸續接獲華埠商家及社區人士報案，指該區多處發生扒竊及其他竊盜事件。2026 年 4 月 21 日，一名 84 歲婦女在一位民眾提醒她有三名可疑男子緊跟其後之後，發現錢包內的現金不翼而飛，隨即報案。2026 年 5 月 10 日，另一名受害人報案稱，同樣有三名男子緊跟著她，之後她發現手提包內的 4,000 元失竊。2026 年 5 月 16 日，調查人員利用自動車牌辨識系統（ALPR），以及由即時調查中心（RTIC）的無人機小組，追蹤到嫌疑車輛進入三藩市。嫌疑人將車輛停在華埠附近，隨後開始在區內四處物色目標，伺機下手。便衣警員觀察到，這夥人相互配合，竊取受害人的財物，並互相把風。警員最終逮捕了全部三名男子。行動期間，警員追回失竊財物，並將其歸還受害人。
2026 年 5 月 17 日，警員持搜索令搜查嫌疑人在Vallejo的住所，查獲更多失竊財物，以及超過 14,000元現金。警員亦發現了在 5 月 10 日竊案中被報失的財物，包括一枚具有鮮明特徵的撲克籌碼，以及與被告在先前竊案中所穿衣物相符的衣物。
本案由助理地方檢察官 Joseph La Herran 成功起訴，法律助理 Andres Hernandez-Ruano、地方檢察官辦公室調查員 Sven Hamilton，以及提供資訊科技支援的 Noaeh Pinaire，均給予了寶貴協助。受害者服務部倡導員朱瑞良在案件審理期間，全程緊密支援受害人及證人。
助理地方檢察官 Joseph La Herran 表示：「能夠追究這些被告的行為責任，是團隊共同努力的成果。本案各被告一次又一次前往同一個地方、採取同一套計畫、鎖定同一類受害人，並竊取同樣的東西。縝密的調查與最新的監控技術，讓陪審團得以觀看被告犯罪當時犯案過程，也為裁定被告罪名成立奠定了基礎。對此，我深表感謝。」
下次庭審日期為 10 月 9 日星期五，屆時法官將審理與重罪指控相關的加重刑罰因素。量刑庭審日期將於 10 月 9 日之後決定。
法庭案件號碼： Ruset, 26011319, Constantine, 26011310, Matei, 26011315
###