Trio arrested for burglaries targeting Frederick County farmers
A multi-agency effort has led to the arrest of three people suspected of targeting farms throughout Frederick County.
The crooks would pretend to want to buy eggs, bread or farm animals, but it was just a distraction, while someone else would creep into the home and steal valuables.
There were at least 16 reported burglary cases like this in Frederick County, but police say suspects were operating in Southern Pennsylvania, too.
Deputies arrested Stefan Chiciu, Anisoara Nistor, and Anna Maria on out-of-state warrants. They are all Romanian nationals and the sheriff says they are here in the U.S. illegally.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the suspects traveled from Baltimore to rural areas across the state in various minivans with out-of-state plate.
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Burglars targeting farms in Frederick County
The Frederick County Sheriff is warning people about a crime ring operating in the area and targeting farms.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office was one of nine agencies in the region on the investigation.
"It was a long term very complicated investigation," Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said. "It took a lot of manpower, a lot of effort, [and] surveillance … It was quite complicated in the beginning to identify who was involved in the network."
Frederick Sheriff warns of crime ring pretending to buy milk, eggs, farm animals
The Frederick County Sheriff is warning people about a crime ring operating in the area and targeting farms. Since Dec. 28, there have been at least 16 incidents of groups of men and women approaching farmhouses claiming to want to buy milk, eggs, or farm animals. FOX 5's Adrienne DiPiazza spoke to one family who says it happened to them.
Jenkins also told FOX 5 that the sheriff's office believes there are more thieves who are part of the same crime ring that are still out there. And they are working to track them down as well.