Woman sentenced to probation in jewelry theft case

A 59-year-old Alabama woman accused of stealing almost $50,000 worth of jewelry from Southern California stores pleaded guilty Monday to one felony count of receiving stolen property and was sentenced to three years’ probation, according to court records.

According to the records, an Orange County Superior Court judge also sentenced Thu Thao Thi Vu to 58 days in jail, but she was released based on time served since her Feb. 6 arrest, plus credit for good behavior.

She also was ordered to pay restitution, but the amount was not immediately available.

After Newport Beach police arrested Vu last month, officials said she had stolen at least $47,600 from high-end department stores.

Authorities said Vu, a resident of Huntsville, Ala., for years took extended vacations to California, where she would frequent Fashion Island in Newport Beach, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and other shopping destinations in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino counties.

Police said Vu would distract employees long enough to grab jewelry without anyone noticing.

Orange County prosecutors dropped two counts of grand theft when Vu pleaded guilty to the single count of receiving stolen property. If she completes her probation without incident, that felony conviction could be reduced to a misdemeanor, according to the District Attorney’s office.

Newport Beach detectives were not available to say whether other counties are also pursuing charges against Vu.