Friday, June 26, 2009

Update: DNA Leads To Arrest In ’08 Grand Theft Case

CASE UPDATE: DNA evidence collected from a wine glass helped deputies arrest a 23-year-old woman who they say stole a Jaguar convertible, expensive watches, jewelry and other pricey items from a man she met at a Fifth Avenue South restaurant in March 2008.

Lien Thi Huynh, who refused to give her Miami address on booking sheets, was arrested Thursday on warrants charging her with grand theft over $100,000 and grand theft auto.

Sheriff’s reports say the 58-year-old victim told deputies that he brought Huynh, who had told him her name was “Trish,” to his North Naples residence on March 16, 2008, one day after meeting her at a restaurant in downtown Naples.

The victim gave Huynh a tour of his house, then they had drinks and went to bed. He woke up around 2 a.m. to find Huynh had gone and his 2007 Jaguar convertible, Louis Vuitton luggage, watches, jewelry, and a safe were missing.

Deputies recovered the stolen Jaguar in the public parking lot at Park Street and Sixth Street South in Naples on March 18, 2008, reports said.

DNA evidence collected from the wine glass Huynh drank from at the victim’s residence was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab for processing.

When the test results were returned to deputies, they showed the DNA obtained from the wine glass was Huynh’s.

A fingerprint collected from the victim’s residence and sent to CCSO’s Identification Section was identified as the right middle finger of Huynh, reports said.

Deputies say Huynh is a multistate offender, with felony arrests in New York, Nevada and Florida. She has a history of providing aliases and assumed identities, deputies said.

Huyhn turned herself into the Collier County jail on Thursday, where deputies arrested her on the warrants.

Original news release, posted March 25, 2008

CCSO Seeks Public’s Help In Grand Theft Case

Collier County sheriff’s deputies are looking for the public’s help in finding a woman wanted for questioning in connection with the theft of high-end goods from a North Naples residence earlier this month.

Deputies are investigating the theft, which was reported March 17. The stolen items include Cartier and Ebel watches, Louis Vuitton luggage and jewelry, along with U.S. and British currency.

The homeowner told deputies he met the woman at a restaurant on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. She said her name was “Trish” and that she was visiting the Naples area from Los Angeles.

Deputies said the woman is described as Asian, possibly Filipino or Polynesian, 5 feet to 5 feet 4 inches tall, and around 110 to 130 pounds.

She has straight brown hair below her shoulders, dark eyes and a tattoo of a chain or rosary around one of her ankles.

She was well dressed and wore high-end accessories including a Rolex watch and carried a large Louis Vuitton handbag.

Anyone who has had contact with the woman or information related to the theft is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. You can remain anonymous.