Illegal immigrant couple "Bonnie and Clyde" accused of brutal jewelry theft in four states.

Homeland Security says the Romanian couple, Bonnie and Clyde, used fake hugs and instructions to steal necklaces from elderly victims in four states.

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An illegal immigrant couple dubbed "Bonnie and Clyde" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) apparently turned the kindness of strangers into a living, stealing necklaces from elderly victims during a four-state jewelry heist.

Rudy Lacatuso, 28, and Mirabella Lacatuso, 26, the Romanian nationals accused of targeting victims on Long Island, are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS announced Tuesday.

According to the DHS report, which cited local reports, the pair committed at least 14 jewelry heists across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.

The stolen necklaces were worth between $2,000 and $3,000 each.

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Mirabella Lacatoso, left, and Rudy Lacatoso were each charged with three counts of grand larceny in connection with the necklace thefts that targeted elderly victims. (Google Maps/DHS)

One alleged encounter began with a seemingly innocent request for directions.

A 73-year-old woman was standing outside her Valley Stream, N.Y., home on Oct. 5 when a gold Mitsubishi with a man and a woman inside was pulled over, Nassau County police said. The female passenger asked how to get to BJ's Wholesale Club.

According to the detectives, after helping the woman, the passenger came out and wanted to hug her and put two golden necklaces on her neck.

A short time later, the woman noticed that her gold necklace, worth approximately $2,000, was gone.

Investigators linked the suspects to similar robberies in Franklin Square and East Meadow. They each face three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, police said.

Nassau County officials turned the couple over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after their arrest, DHS said. According to DHS, both entered the United States illegally at an unspecified time and place.

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"Bonny and Clyde, an illegal alien couple from Romania, have been charged with grand larceny after allegedly committing more than a dozen jewelry thefts in four states," said DHS Secretary Marquin Mullin.

Thanks to local partners in New York, these illegal aliens are in ICE custody and will be removed from our country."

Mullin also took aim at Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, arguing that asylum policies put Americans at risk.

"If it was in the hands of sanctuary politicians like Gov. Kathy Hochul, these criminals would be back on the streets robbing more Americans," he said.

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DHS used the arrests to renew criticism of New York's sanctuary policies, calling the state a "hotbed of illegal alien crime" under Hochul. DHS also argues that the policies have had "disastrous consequences" beyond New York's borders.

The announcement follows Operation Rotten Apple, an ICE crackdown that ran from July 27 to August 29.

DHS said officers arrested 2,197 illegal immigrants across New York during the operation, including what the department described as murderers, rapists, child predators, drug traffickers and violent attackers.

Nassau County police initially arraigned the suspects in Hempstead on Oct. 20, according to the department's arrest notice. Tuesday's statement from DHS did not specify when ICE detained them.

The case prompted police to warn residents about distraction scams targeting the elderly, including strangers offering jewelry or gifts, asking to pray together, asking for change or asking for help with a flat tire.

While the victim's attention is elsewhere, thieves can remove jewelry directly from their body, police warned.

Officials urged residents to be vigilant in parking lots and outside grocery stores and to call 911 to report suspicious activity.

Anyone who believes they have been the target of a similar robbery can call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

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