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California resident Mirela Sardaru, and Melinsa Stefan, who was identified by her Italian passport, were both taken into custody during a traffic stop after being connected to several thefts in the area.
On Wednesday, March 27, officers from the Frederick Police Department were called to investigate a reported theft in the unit block of East Patrick Street, where two shoplifters were allegedly moving between stores downtown and taking items before heading north down North Market Street.
According to police, the description provided by the caller matched that of two women who were implicated in an earlier incident that was handled by officers in the same part of town, when a neighboring business alerted police.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage, officers confirmed the suspects' involvement in the theft, they said.
While on patrol in the vicinity of North Market Street and East Church Street, officers spotted Sardaru driving with Stefan in the front seat, leading to a traffic stop, where evidence of stolen items was recovered.
Both women were taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center, where they were charged with multiple counts of theft and conspiracy to commit theft.
The string of shoplifting incidents remains under investigation.
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