EL CAJON, Calif. – January 22, 2024 – Investigators are on the hunt for a woman wanted for a string of thefts at jewelry stores in San Diego County and possibly, elsewhere.
Late December, at around 2 p.m., El Cajon Police Sgt. Kevin Reilly says a woman walked into a jewelry store with a request. “She requested to see necklaces that were in the display in front of her, and they were gold necklaces,” said Sgt. Reilly. Sources tell ABC 10News she was well put together, from her makeup to a stylish hot pink jacket. She mentioned she was an �influencer,� and she was draped in diamonds, from diamond rings and a bracelet to a necklace. Police say the store employee took out several necklaces from a display.
“The jewelry is pulled out for her to try on. At one point, she steps away and makes a phone call on her cell phone. She returns back to the counter and informs the clerk that she�ll take it, and then she grabs the handful of jewelry and runs out of the business,” said Sgt. Reilly.
Investigators say the woman made off with $36,000 in gold necklaces.
Police say parking lot surveillance photos showed the car she got into, a getaway driver at the wheel. License plate cameras helped police identify the car and the alleged thief: Angelina Ordonez, 23, with addresses in San Diego and Yuma, AZ.
“She had committed the same style of theft at a jewelry store in Escondido later that same day after ours. Approximately two weeks prior, she committed a similar theft at a jewelry store in Carlsbad,” said Sgt. Reilly. Police are looking into links to several other, similar thefts in Southern California, Arizona and Michigan, all in the past few months.
Investigators advised Ordonez was detained for shoplifting in Arizona earlier this month, but the theft warrants weren’t yet active, and she was released. Police have not confirmed if her claims of being a social media influencer are legitimate.
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If you have any information regarding this suspect, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.