December 25, 2015
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Alexandra Martinez, 19, of Ewing, N.J. faces grand larceny charges for a string of alleged thefts committed against wealthy men in New York City.
A New Jersey teenager with a taste for high-end jewelry was arrested this week after prosecutors say she stole $58,000 in cash and watches from wealthy New York City men over the past five months, part of an alarming trend of theft stemming from the city's bar and club scene.
Alexandra Martinez, a 19-year-old Ewing resident, is accused of baiting a string of wealthy men from upscale locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan to take her home with them in order to steal their valuables, sometimes with the aid of cocktails including mickeys, the New York Post reports.
Martinez was arraigned Wednesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court on grand larceny charges related to two of the thefts. According to the New York Daily News, the 5'7'' blonde, who dons tattoos on her arms saying "Love yourself so no one has to" and "Sugar," appears to follow a similar pattern in each incident.
Most recently, on Nov. 26, court documents say Martinez and an accomplice returned to the Brooklyn home of a 44-year-old man after a night of clubbing. Martinez allegedly slipped the man a cocktail that immediately rendered him unconscious. When he awoke, Martinez and her accomplice had made off with a $10,000 Rolex and $8,000 in cash.
On Sept. 4, prosecutors say Martinez and an accomplice went home with a 24-year-old man, gave him a mickey, and stole a box containing $38,000 worth of jewelry.
Martinez first wound up on the radar of New York City police in July when a 34-year-old man reported that she joined him in a taxi back to his place only to grab his watch as he stepped out of the vehicle. She then allegedly told the taxi driver to take her home. On August 24, prosecutors say Martinez went with a 25-year-old man to his Ritz Carlton hotel room and stole his Rolex.
The case comes amid a rash of recent thefts from high-profile men, including New York Knicks forward Derrick Williams, who lost $750,000 in watches and jewelry to two women who went home with him following a victory over the Sixers on Dec. 19. Beverly Hills watch dealer Stephen Rostovsky also reported that his $590,000 Greubel Forsey watch was stolen, along with $600 in cash, by two women who brought home from a strip club.
An attorney representing Martinez, who was released from jail on $50,000 bond, said her client would "vehemently" challenge the charges against her.
