Two California teenagers have been arrested for allegedly posing as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and robbing members of Latino communities in the western United States.
Anaheim police said Laurentiu Bacanu and Vasile Alexandru, both 19, were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of carrying out a series of robberies while posing as ICE agents.
Officers were called to two robberies that reportedly occurred between 5pm and 6pm on June 20th and upon arrival on scene discovered the two robberies were related.
In both incidents, police said, Bacanu and Alexandre approached the victims, identified themselves as ICE agents, demanded cash and then fled in a blue SUV.
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Anaheim police arrested Laurentiu Bacanou and Vasile Alexandru, both 19, last week. (iStock)
An investigation conducted by members of the Anaheim Police Real Time Crime Center, Robbery and Major Assault Unit and other units determined both incidents were related to similar recent robberies.
About five hours after the two robberies happened Thursday, police found a blue Audi Q7 SUV in Fullerton and arrested Bacanou and Alexandre without incident.
The two were transported to the Anaheim Police Detention Center and arrested on several counts of robbery and other crimes.
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Two 19-year-old men were arrested in California for allegedly posing as ICE agents and robbing Hispanic people. (Associated Press)
Both Alexandre and Bacanou are being held without bail.
Police said they believe the pair committed similar robberies in Anaheim, Orange County and other parts of the western United States.
The two men are said to have targeted Hispanic people, but detectives believe there may be other victims.
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Anaheim police have arrested two teenagers for allegedly posing as ICE agents and committing a robbery. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
During the robbery, Bacanu and Alexandre spoke Spanish and impersonated police officers, displaying their badges.
Detectives also believe the pair used different vehicles, including a silver or grey Volkswagen Atlas SUV.
ICE did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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Police are asking anyone with information about the robbery to contact Detective John Carey at 714-765-1973, the Robbery and Serious Assault Unit at 714-765-1947 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or occrimestoppers.org.
