BENSALEM, Pa. — A 28-year-old Baltimore man has been arrested and extradited to Bucks County in connection with the robbery of jewelry valued at approximately $15,000 from a 79-year-old woman last month, police said. Paul Miclescu was taken into custody on September 26 in Baltimore and transferred to Bensalem Township on October 7 to face felony charges, including robbery and theft.
The incident occurred on September 9 in front of the victim’s residence on Maltese Court. Surveillance footage showed a black Ford Explorer, driven by Miclescu, pulling into the parking lot. A female suspect exited the passenger side, approached the elderly woman, and forcibly removed two necklaces and a bracelet from her after attempting to exchange them for fake jewelry. The suspects then fled the scene in the SUV.
Bensalem detectives used intersection cameras and license plate readers to trace the vehicle to AVIS Rental Car Company. Further review of surveillance footage helped identify Miclescu as the driver at the time of the robbery. Detectives also discovered that the SUV had been in the Bensalem area on previous occasions.
When Miclescu was detained at his Baltimore residence, he was found with various pieces of jewelry, although none were linked to the Bensalem robbery. Authorities believe he may have pawned the stolen items in Maryland.
Miclescu admitted to driving the SUV during the September 9 robbery and waived extradition to Bucks County. He was arraigned before District Justice Joseph Falcone and is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on $1 million bail, with 10% required for release.
Police are still working to identify the female suspect involved in the robbery. The investigation remains ongoing.