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Criminal Records - Most Wanted |
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Profile |
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Name: Walentina Knapek
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Race: White |
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Age Now: 56 |
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Height: 5'3" |
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Weight: 150 lbs |
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Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Other
Red/Blonde/Brown |
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Eyes (Color and Correction): Brown |
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Other Physical Characteristics: Has prominent nose
Fair complexion
Stocky build
Frequently changes hair color |
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Wanted for :
Grand Theft, Stuart, FL;
Feb 27, 2005
UFAP
Larceny
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Location(s) |
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Last Seen : Staten Island, NY |
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Possible Location : Illinois
New Jersey |
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Last Known : Unkown |
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Traits |
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Poses as a deaf mute |
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Uses hand gestures to communicate |
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Possibly Polish or Yugoslavian descent |
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Speaks with heavy European accent |
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May wear an apron with big pockets and often wears long skirts |
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Has over 40 aliases |
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Has long history of theft |
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May commit thefts with the help of a 20-30 year old female with dark hair, possibly a relative |
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Case Story |
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Transient Woman Wanted In Eight States |
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Police say a Yugoslavian woman, Walentina Knapek, poses as a deaf mute and scams store clerks out of thousands of dollars. There are more than a dozen warrants for her arrest in eight states since 1992.
Cops say the scam goes like this: Knapek purchases an item for about $2.00. When she is given her change, police say she attempts to get change for a larger bill. Unable to communicate, the cashier becomes confused and frustrated. Cops say Knapek usually performs her deaf-mute routine during busy times and preys on young, inexperienced clerks, who are more likely to panic. Knapek grunts and gestures, never speaking coherently, if at all. Authorities say she points to the cash register and goes so far as to even take money out of the register in an attempt to explain what she wants. When the cash drawer is open, officials say she reaches into the cash drawer and takes out stacks of 20, 50 and even 100 dollar bills!
Typically, the clerk will grab the money and return it to the cash drawer. But, not before Knapek has pocketed some fast cash -- according to officials, Knapek manages to quickly stash large sums of cash in her purse or pockets.
Florida law enforcement officials say Knapek stole from a chocolate and ice cream shop on February 27, 2005, scamming more than $1,000 dollars out of the register. Authorities believe she may still be in the South Florida area or may have fled to the Northeast. |
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Knapek Still On The Run After 25 Years |
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Each time Knapek has been arrested, cops say she fools authorities as to her identity. By the time her fingerprints come back with her true identity, she has already posted bond and skipped town, never appearing in court, police say. According to authorities, Knapek can pull in thousands of dollars in a week.
Officials say Knapek has used at least 40 aliases, nine dates of birth, four social security numbers and has been using the same scam for over 25 years. She's accused of targeting large retail stores, supermarkets, and rest stop areas along the highway. Police say Knapek often uses other individuals to shield the view of security cameras and other customers.
Caught or Not?
Walentina Knapek is wanted in seven states for allegedly robbing stores of thousands of dollars in broad daylight. Cops haven't been able to catch her making stores' money disappear. Then, on Saturday July 21, 2007 a strange thing happened. Salem, New Hampshire police locked up a woman named Irena Nowak for allegedly scamming a store clerk out of $200. Her fingerprints said her name was, indeed, Irena Nowak. But prosecutors and cops all along the East Coast immedietely thought they recognized the woman as the person they've been hunting for years -- Walentina Knapek. Could it be Knapek has fooled everyone with her dozens of aliases? That's what prosecutors said in open court on Monday as the woman arrested on Saturday cried and vigorously denied she was Knapek. Now, it appears she was telling the truth. She had many similarities to the amw fugitive -- but this time she was telling the truth. Cops are now still hunting for Walentina Knapek. |
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