A Romanian brother and sister, Gabriela Constantin (19) and Andrei Constantin (18), have been sentenced to time served after pleading no contest to retail theft charges related to multiple incidents at Kohl’s stores in Waukesha County. The pair, who were minors at the time, faced legal consequences following their arrests in August 2023.
Both Gabriela and Andrei pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of retail theft, while a third count was dismissed. Gabriela was initially charged with three felony counts of retail theft. Their father, 36-year-old Danut Constantin, was also implicated and pleaded not guilty to felony retail theft.
The case began on August 9, 2023, when a school resource officer responded to a retail theft at a Kohl’s store in Muskego. According to the criminal complaint, the siblings were seen placing items in gift bags, attempting to conceal them. Upon the officer’s arrival, Andrei was holding a white gift bag as the pair exited the store. Both siblings were detained after the officer activated his emergency lights and ordered them to stop.
A language barrier complicated the situation, as the siblings primarily spoke Romanian. However, Andrei admitted that they had not paid for the items in their possession. With the assistance of a Kohl’s loss prevention supervisor, the total value of the stolen items was calculated to be $2,462.90.
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While officers were speaking with the siblings, Danut Constantin, their father, drove a minivan back into the Kohl’s parking lot and was subsequently detained. Andrei informed the police that Danut had been involved in the thefts by driving them to the stores, waiting for them to exit with stolen merchandise, and then assisting them in leaving the scene.
The following day, authorities were called to a separate Kohl’s location in Brookfield, where another retail theft was reported. Witnesses identified Gabriela and Andrei as the individuals involved in stealing approximately $1,200 worth of merchandise. Once again, the stolen goods were concealed in a gift bag.
Detectives later linked the siblings to an organized crime group known as “the Constantins,” which has Romanian roots. Further investigation revealed that Gabriela and Andrei were also responsible for a theft at a Kohl’s store in Delafield, where over $3,300 worth of merchandise was stolen.
Both siblings, who were minors at the time of the crimes, have now been sentenced to time served. Their father, Danut, awaits further legal proceedings in connection with the case.
