SFPD Arrests Three Pickpocket Suspects Targeting Chinatown Victims #26-057
Arrests Made as a Result of Diligent Police Work and Strong Community-Police Relations
San Francisco Police officers arrested three suspects connected to a series of pickpocket crimes targeting Chinatown victims, SFPD Chief Derrick Lew announced Monday.
Since early April, SFPD has received reports from Chinatown merchants and the community regarding multiple pickpocket and theft incidents across the neighborhood, including one victim who lost approximately $4,000 in property.
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With the help of strong relationships with Chinatown merchants and the community, Central Station officers assigned to the Chinatown foot beat identified three individuals believed to be responsible for multiple reported and unreported pickpocket thefts.
“Criminals targeting Chinatown, or any other community in San Francisco, is simply unacceptable,” said Police Chief Derrick Lew. “I want to thank members of the Central Station for their continued partnership with the merchants to demonstrate the highest level of community policing that keeps our city and Chinatown safe. Thank you to all the officers involved, including our citywide plainclothes and our Real Time Investigation Center, for the work that led to these great arrests.”
“I am proud of our officers and community for working together to keep Chinatown safe,” said Central Station Captain Christopher Del Gandio. “The result of our continued partnership demonstrates the importance of reporting all crime and working with police officers.”
After a weeks-long investigation, SFPD citywide plainclothes officers, with support from the Real Time Investigation Center, identified a suspect vehicle and three individuals believed to be tied to the thefts.
On May 16, 2026, investigators tracked the suspect vehicle entering San Francisco using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) and a drone unit. 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 suspects:
- Stefan Ruset, 35-year-old male of Vallejo, California
- Marian Constantine, 30-year-old male of Vallejo, California
- Florin Matei of Vallejo, 26-year-old of Vallejo, California
All three suspects were booked in the San Francisco County Jail for the following charges:
- Grand Theft 487(c) PC / Felony
- Conspiracy 182(a)(1) PC / Felony
- Possession of Stolen Property 496(a) PC / Misdemeanor
During the operation, officers also 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 stolen property and more than $14,000 of U.S. currency. Officers also discovered stolen property that is linked to a 2024 pickpocket victim and clothing consistent with items worn during previous thefts.
Although arrests have been made, these investigations remain open and active. Anyone with information should contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text-A-Tip to TIP411, beginning the message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
SFPD CASE#: 260-274-966, 260-260-852
三藩市警察局拘捕三名涉嫌針對華埠受害人的扒手疑犯
拘捕行動有賴警方鍥而不捨的調查工作，以及警民之間的緊密合作關係
警察局影片連結
三藩市警察局長劉力一（Derrick Lew) 宣布，警員拘捕三名涉嫌與一連串針對華埠社區及商戶的扒竊案件有關的疑犯。
自2026年4月初起，三藩市警察局陸續接獲華埠商戶及社區人士報案，指區內發生多宗扒竊案件，其中一名受害人損失約4,000元財物。(點擊此處觀看更多影片。）
在華埠商戶及社區的協助下，中央警署負責華埠步行巡邏的警員成功鎖定三名懷疑涉及多宗已報案及未報案扒竊案件的涉案人士。
三藩市警察局局長劉力一表示：「我們絕不能接受針對華埠或三藩市任何社區犯案的罪犯。感激中央警署與商戶持續合作，展現最高水平的社區警政工作以保障本市及華埠安全。我亦感謝所有參與行動的警員，包括全市便衣警員及即時調查中心警務人員，成功促成這次拘捕行動。」
中央警局分局長簡德奧（Christopher Del Gandio）表示：「我為警員及社區攜手合作維護華埠安全引以為榮。我們持續合作所取得的成果，再次證明舉報所有罪案及與警員合作的重要性。」
經過數星期調查後，三藩市警察局便衣警員在即時調查中心支援下，成功鎖定一輛涉案車輛，以及三名涉嫌與多宗盜竊案有關的人士。
2026年5月16日，調查人員利用自動車牌辨識系統及無人機組追蹤涉案車輛進入三藩市。疑犯其後將車輛停泊於華埠附近，並開始在區內物色目標。便衣警員目擊三人互相配合犯案，偷取受害人財物，同時互相把風。警員最終拘捕以下三名疑犯：
- Stefan Ruset，35歲，來自加州Vallejo市男子
- Marian Constantine，30歲，來自加州Vallejo市男子
- Florin Matei，26歲，來自加州Vallejo市男子
三名疑犯其後被送往三藩市縣監獄，並面臨以下控罪：
- 487(c) PC 重盜罪 / Felony
- 182(a)(1) PC 串謀罪 / Felony
- 496(a) PC 持有贓物罪 / Misdemeanor
行動期間，警員亦成功尋回被盜財物，並歸還予受害人。
2026年5月17日，警員在疑犯於Vallejo 市住所執行搜查令，檢獲更多失物及超過14,000元現金。警員同時發現部分失物與2024年一宗扒竊案件受害人有關，並檢獲與過往盜竊案件中疑犯所穿著衣物相符的服裝。
雖然案件已有涉案人士被捕，但調查工作仍在進行中。任何人士如掌握相關資料，請致電415-575-4444聯絡三藩市警察局，或發送短信至TIP411，並於訊息開首輸入「SFPD」。市民可選擇匿名提供資料。