Romanian couple in ICE custody over alleged jewelry thefts from elderly victims in four states
DHS says Rudi and Mirabela Lacatusu, Romanian nationals arrested in Nassau County, New York, are in ICE custody over at least 14 alleged jewelry thefts across four states. Coverage so far comes only from two right-leaning outlets, and the figures rest on DHS and police statements.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday 13 October that Rudi Lacatusu, 28, and Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, Romanian nationals accused of targeting victims on Long Island, are in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. New York PostR “Rudi Lacatusu, 28, and Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, Romanian nationals accused of targeting victims on Long Island” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2DHS says the pair allegedly carried out at least 14 jewelry thefts across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, citing local reporting; the stolen necklaces were valued at $2,000 to $3,000 each. Fox NewsR “The pair allegedly carried out at least 14 jewelry thefts across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland, according to DHS, which cited local reporting.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “The stolen necklaces were valued between $2,000 and $3,000 each.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Nassau County police described one incident: on Oct. 5 a 73-year-old woman outside her Valley Stream, New York, home was approached by a man and woman in a gold Mitsubishi. The passenger asked directions to BJ's Wholesale Club, then asked to hug her and placed two gold-colored necklaces around her neck; the woman later found her own gold necklace, worth about $2,000, was gone. Fox NewsR “A 73-year-old woman was standing outside her Valley Stream, New York, home Oct. 5, when a gold Mitsubishi with a man and woman inside pulled up, Nassau County police said.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “After the woman helped, the passenger stepped out, asked to hug her and placed two gold-colored necklaces around her neck, according to detectives.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Investigators linked the suspects to similar thefts in Franklin Square and East Meadow, and police said each faces three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny. Fox NewsR “Investigators linked the suspects to similar thefts in Franklin Square and East Meadow. Each faces three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, police said.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “Each faces three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, police said.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1DHS said Nassau County authorities turned the couple over to ICE after their arrests, and that both entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and location. Police had initially issued appearance tickets directing them to court in Hempstead on Oct. 20, and DHS did not say when ICE took custody. New York PostR “DHS said Nassau County authorities turned the couple over to ICE after their arrests. Both entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and location, according to DHS.”“DHS’ statement Tuesday did not specify when ICE took custody of them.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the pair a "'Bonnie and Clyde' illegal alien couple", said they "will be removed from our country", and criticised New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's sanctuary policies, saying that under them "these criminals would be back on the streets to rob more Americans." Fox NewsR “"If it were up to sanctuary politicians like Governor Kathy Hochul, these criminals would be back on the streets to rob more Americans," he said.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “"Thanks to local partners in New York, these illegal aliens are in ICE custody and will be removed from our country."” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2DHS used the arrests to renew its criticism of New York, calling it a "hotbed of illegal alien crime" under Hochul, and the announcement follows Operation Rotten Apple, an ICE crackdown from July 27 to Aug. 29 in which DHS says 2,197 people were arrested across New York. Fox NewsR “The announcement follows Operation Rotten Apple, an ICE crackdown that ran from July 27 through Aug. 29.” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “DHS said officers arrested 2,197 illegal immigrants across New York during the operation” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Police warned residents about distraction scams aimed at elderly people, such as offers of jewelry or gifts, requests to pray together, requests for change or help with a flat tire, and urged vigilance in parking lots and outside grocery stores. Anyone who believes they were targeted can contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. Fox NewsR “The case prompted police to warn residents about distraction scams targeting elderly people” Read at Fox News ↗ New York PostR “Anyone who has been targeted in a similar theft can contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run the same text under the same headline, leading with DHS's "Bonnie and Clyde" label and the couple's immigration status, and tie the case to DHS criticism of New York's sanctuary policies. The New York Post copy carries a Fox News byline.
- Emphasis
- Immigration status, DHS Secretary Mullin's statements, the sanctuary-policy argument, Operation Rotten Apple, and police scam warnings.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No comment from the couple or a lawyer, no independent confirmation of the 14-theft total beyond DHS citing local reporting, and no detail on the thefts outside New York. Both note that police had issued appearance tickets and that DHS did not say when ICE took custody.
- Charged language
- “Bonnie and Clyde”“illegal immigrant”“brazen”“hotbed of illegal alien crime”
- For example
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“DHS used the arrests to renew its criticism of New York’s sanctuary policies, calling the state a "hotbed of illegal alien crime" under Hochul.” — New York Post
“An illegal immigrant couple dubbed “Bonnie and Clyde” by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allegedly turned strangers’ kindness into a payday” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Rudi Lacatusu, 28, and Mirabela Lacatusu, 26, Romanian nationals, are in ICE custody, DHS announced Tuesday.
- DHS alleges at least 14 jewelry thefts across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.
- Nassau County police say each faces three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny.
- Police had issued appearance tickets for court in Hempstead on Oct. 20.
Department of Homeland Security organisation
DHS announced the arrests, labelled the pair a "Bonnie and Clyde" illegal alien couple, said they will be removed, and used the case to criticise New York's sanctuary policies and Gov. Hochul.
“DHS used the arrests to renew its criticism of New York’s sanctuary policies, calling the state a "hotbed of illegal alien crime" under Hochul.” — New York Post
““Thanks to local partners in New York, these illegal aliens are in ICE custody and will be removed from our country.”” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states
Critical Leads with DHS's "Bonnie and Clyde" label and the couple's illegal status, and includes Mullin's attack on Hochul's sanctuary policies alongside police details.
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‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states
Critical Near-identical to the Fox News text, with the same DHS-centred framing and sanctuary-policy criticism.
- 13 Oct 23:28 First Fox NewsR ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states
- 14 Oct 08:40 +9h 12m New York PostR ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ illegal immigrant couple accused of brazen jewelry theft spree across four states
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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