Illegal migrant dubbed ‘traveling gypsy’ arrested for cross-country jewelry thefts after son, 10, seen sporting $40K Rolex
A man wanted in several states for a series of luxury jewelry thefts was arrested in Florida on Monday after deputies noticed a $40,000 Rolex watch on the wrist of his 10-year-old son.
Marcu Rostas, 33, a Romanian national, was taken into custody by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office just one day after a reported robbery at a jewelry store in Stuart, Florida. Authorities say Rostas was traveling with his wife and two young children at the time of his arrest — both of whom were wearing expensive jewelry suspected to be stolen.
Deputies discovered that Rostas’ son was wearing a Rolex watch far too large for him, while his daughter had on an expensive necklace. A search of the vehicle uncovered additional stolen items, including a $40,000 diamond ring, gold chains, gold coins, several high-end watches, and $30,000 in cash. Investigators estimate the total value of the recovered items to be around $400,000.
According to the sheriff’s office, some of the stolen items were concealed inside one of the children’s stuffed animals.
“Rostas traveled the nation victimizing people, but Sunday, his crime spree hit a figurative brick wall,” the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Facebook.
Authorities say Rostas is linked to a network of so-called “distraction thieves” — groups that move across the U.S. using deceptive tactics to steal valuables from stores, homes, and individuals. These schemes often involve women and children creating distractions while other members commit thefts, according to officials.
Rostas is reportedly wanted in multiple states for similar crimes. Investigators also found several fake IDs and determined that he is in the United States illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified, and a detainer was placed on him at the time of arrest.
As of now, formal charges have not yet been filed.
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