See San Francisco police take down pickpocket ring in dramatic bust
San Francisco police arrested three men accused of operating a pickpocket ring targeting shoppers in Chinatown. The arrests followed a weeks-long investigation into a series of thefts that had alarmed the local community. Officers recovered stolen property and cash during the operation, which was supported by local merchants and residents.
- ▪The suspects were identified as Stefan Ruset, Marian Constantine, and Florin Matei, all from Vallejo.
- ▪The investigation utilized Automated License Plate Readers and a drone unit to track the suspects' vehicle.
- ▪Police recovered over $14,000 in cash and property linked to previous thefts during the raid.
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Metro See San Francisco police take down pickpocket ring in dramatic bust By Nina Joudeh Published May 19, 2026, 6:39 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google San Francisco cops busted an alleged pickpocket ring accused of targeting unsuspecting Chinatown shoppers in a dramatic takedown caught on video after investigators tracked the suspects for weeks through the city. Footage released by the San Francisco Police Department showed plainclothes officers swooping in to arrest an alleged pickpocket crew accused of preying on Chinatown victims following a weeks-long investigation. The arrests came after a string of pickpocket and theft incidents that have rattled the neighborhood since early April, according to SFPD.
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