A Vancouver couple has been accused of a series of smash-and-grab thefts from vehicles parked at Beaverton, Ore.-area hotels and motels.
Beaverton police announced Monday they have arrested Sergiy V. Selivanov, 22, and his wife, Marina Chertovskaya, in connection with 17 cases that occurred from July to September. Most thefts involved GPS units but included other valuables left in vehicles parked in local hotel or motel parking lots.
The suspects were arrested early Saturday after a hotel employee reported a theft in progress at the Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel at 15525 N.W. Gateway Court in Beaverton. Police stopped the suspects’ vehicle, and said they found numerous GPS units, along with other items believed to have been stolen.
The arrest of these two suspects closed 17 cases: 14 in Beaverton, 2 in Tigard, Ore., and one in Washington County, Ore. Investigators said they are still working closely with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office to bring all outstanding cases forward for prosecution.
Since the majority of the theft victims are from out of town, detectives worked on returning the stolen items as quickly as possible. They even went as far as to meet one victim at the Portland airport as he was getting ready to board a flight to Arizona. Most items have been returned.
Selivanov was arrested on suspicion of seven counts each of second-degree theft, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree criminal mischief, according to a police news release. He was also charged with 10 counts each of conspiracy to commit second-degree theft, conspiracy to commit unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief. He was also booked on an outstanding felony warrant out of Multnomah County,ore., for absconding from justice. He was lodged at the Washington County Jail.
Chertovskaya was arrested for conspiracy to commit second-degree theft, conspiracy to commit unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, and conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief. She was cited and released.
