Irvine Police Arrest Suspect in 'Distraction Theft' at Grocery Store

Authorities say the suspect was part of a criminal crew targeting elderly shoppers.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Police in Irvine, California have arrested a 51-year-old woman from Los Angeles in connection with a 'distraction theft' incident at a local Trader Joe's grocery store. The suspect, Andrea Maria Cantor Patino, allegedly worked with a team of other individuals to steal the wallet of a 75-year-old shopper, Cheri Fu, while distracting her inside the store. Authorities are still searching for one man and two other women believed to be involved in the crime.

Why it matters

Distraction thefts targeting vulnerable elderly shoppers are an ongoing concern in many communities. This case highlights the organized nature of some of these criminal crews and the proactive efforts by Irvine police to identify and apprehend the suspects.

The details

According to police, Cheri Fu reported her wallet stolen after realizing it was missing while checking out at the Trader Joe's store. Security footage showed a woman, later identified as Andrea Maria Cantor Patino, leaving the store with Fu's wallet. Investigators believe Patino was working with a team of other individuals who were communicating with each other and wearing AirPods, raising suspicion that this was an organized theft operation. Irvine police's specialized apprehension team was able to locate and arrest Patino on Monday, but are still searching for the other suspects involved.

  • Last month, Cheri Fu reported the theft incident to Irvine police.
  • Within 15 minutes of realizing her wallet was stolen, Fu started receiving fraud alerts from her bank and other retailers.
  • On Monday, Irvine police arrested suspect Andrea Maria Cantor Patino.

The players

Cheri Fu

A 75-year-old shopper who had her wallet stolen in the distraction theft incident at the Irvine Trader Joe's store.

Andrea Maria Cantor Patino

A 51-year-old woman from Los Angeles who was arrested by Irvine police in connection with the distraction theft.

Irvine Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the distraction theft incident and apprehended the suspect.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I remembered someone bumped me in the shoulder.”

— Cheri Fu, Victim (nbclosangeles.com)

“(It) raised our suspicion even more that this is an organized crew walked in and didn't buy anything.”

— Ziggy Azarcon, Irvine Police Department (nbclosangeles.com)

“Don't commit crime in Irvine. We have a team, technology and resources to take you down.”

— Ziggy Azarcon, Irvine Police Department (nbclosangeles.com)

What’s next

Irvine police are still searching for one man and two other women believed to be involved in the distraction theft crew that targeted Cheri Fu.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing problem of organized 'distraction theft' crews targeting vulnerable elderly shoppers. It underscores the importance of community awareness, proactive law enforcement, and protective measures to safeguard against these types of crimes.