MAGEE, Miss. (WJTV) – Magee police arrested Elena Matilda Trifu, a woman with outstanding warrants in Canada, in connection to a vehicle burglary that took place on Wednesday, December 4.
Around 1:00 p.m., the victim in the Dollar Tree parking lot reported being approached by a man asking for directions to the nearest hospital. During this interaction, the victim noticed a woman entering her vehicle and taking her purse. After yelling, the two suspects fled the scene. Trifu was apprehended near Huddle House shortly afterward.
Although Trifu did not have the stolen wallet on her at the time of arrest, she confessed to the theft. The wallet was later recovered from a trash can at a nearby restaurant’s restroom.
Trifu, a Romanian national, was found to have warrants in Canada related to her involvement in a criminal organization and thefts exceeding $5,000. She had entered the U.S. illegally with an accomplice, who is still being sought by investigators.
Trifu was arrested, processed, and booked at the Magee Police Department. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on her for further investigation.
Police are continuing efforts to identify and locate the male accomplice involved in the theft.
