Indiana State Police have announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with a series of thefts in Illinois and Wisconsin. The suspects were apprehended after being pulled over on I-65 in central Indiana.
During the search, law enforcement officers discovered an assortment of valuable items inside the suspects’ vehicle, which happened to be a 2023 Lincoln Navigator. The confiscated belongings included jewelry and electronics with a combined worth exceeding $50,000. Additionally, authorities stumbled upon cash, a counterfeit identification card, marijuana, and a watch.
On an undisclosed time Tuesday, a trooper pulled over a car on I-65 southbound near the State Road 28 interchange for Frankfort and Attica. The police were actively searching for a 2023 Lincoln Navigator that was linked to a theft in Countryside, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
Indiana State Police issued a news release on Wednesday stating that signs of potential criminal activity were observed during the investigation. The release also mentioned that further information indicated the involvement of both individuals in a theft in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee.
Indiana police are hopeful that they will be able to reunite the stolen items with their rightful owners.
Following the investigation, Procoror Muntean, the driver, aged 23 from Queens Village, New York, and the passenger, Retan Varga, aged 26 from East Kent, Washington, are both facing preliminary charges. These include a low-level felony charge of theft, a marijuana possession charge, and an obstruction of justice charge for Muntean. Additionally, Muntean faces OWI misdemeanors.
There have been no formal charges filed against Muntean or Varga as of Wednesday night, as per the online court records. Both individuals are currently being held in the Clinton County jail in Frankfort.