Peter Alexandru, 23, and Gratiela Stoian, 18, have each been charged with one count of theft of jewelry.
Vancouver police say they arrested the pair near Kerr Street and East 49th Avenue not long after a 69-year-old man had his necklace stolen after interacting with a woman on the street.
WATCH: VPD warns about distraction thefts targeting seniors (Aired: Aug. 23, 2019)
Police issued a warning in August about the thefts, which appeared to target elderly people and visible minorities.
READ MORE: Hold onto your jewelry: Police in Vancouver, Abbotsford warn of spike in ‘distraction thefts’
Investigators said the suspects approached victims in their yards or on the street and tried to give them fake jewelry — pilfering their real jewelry in the process.
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Police said they recovered a variety of jewelry following the arrests, some of which has already been returned to its owners.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact Vancouver police.
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