After $9K Theft, Maine Police Say Suspects Wanted in Other States

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these two people is urged to contact police, as they have multiple outstanding arrest warrants.

What Are They Accused of Taking?

On December 10, 2023, members of the York County Sheriff's Office responded to an antique store in Arundel for a report of a theft. The store's owner reported that over $9,000 worth of jewelry had been stolen by two people.

Who Are the Suspects?

An investigation into the circumstances of the theft helped police identify two persons of interest:

• Pardelian Muntean, 21
• Liana Moldovan, 34

Warrants for their arrest were issued, charging each of them with theft by unauthorized taking, which is a class C felony.

It also came to the attention of York County investigators that both Muntean and Moldovan have warrants out for their arrest in several states. Police say they are part of a criminal organization that has been committing retail thefts throughout the country. Both suspects have outstanding warrants in New York, Arizona, Texas, New Hampshire, and multiple jurisdictions in Maine.

Haven't We Seen Their Photos Released by Police in Maine Before?

Bangor Police put out an alert in December 2023 of the same pair, stating that they were the subjects of several theft investigations that have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in cash being stolen from many different businesses across Maine. Officials say the two people will enter a store and either buy gift cards or ask for large bills, like 100 dollar bills, to be broken into smaller bills. They then distract the clerk and allegedly use sleight-of-hand techniques when passing the cash, to deceive the employee.

Detectives are now working with federal authorities to locate the pair and return them to Maine. Anyone who recognizes the two people or who has information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 207-324-1113.

We'll update this story as more details become available.