Couple went on £31,000 Tesco shoplifting spree as they hit two Teesside stores
A thieving couple raided Tesco stores across 11 counties including Teesside in a GBP31,000 shoplifting spree[1]. Marian Oprescu, 27, targeted dozens of stores between February and August. His partner Alexandra Radu, 24, joined him on a number of occasions as they swiped cosmetics, alcohol and laundry detergent.
Of the stores targeted included two in Stockton[2] and one in Northallerton. The couple would remove security tags from goods before walking out without paying. They were caught following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police, after a string of thefts at Tesco[3] Extra in Jubilee Way South, Mansfield.
Detectives discovered they also targeted Tesco’s in Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Teesside. In total, around GBP31,000 worth of products were stolen between February 23 and August 30. In just one day on July 24, Oprescu stole almost GBP10,000 of products from three Tesco stores – in Northallerton, North Yorkshire[4] and two in Stockton.
Some of the products stolen by the pair
He also stole GBP7,000 worth of printer ink at a Tesco store in Northumbria on March 20.
Radu accompanied Oprescu on several occasions during the six-month crime spree. On August 15, they stole around GBP3,000 worth of goods from two Tesco stores in Mansfield. They were finally caught when police tracked them down to their home in Scunthorpe, on September 6.
Police searched the property where they found a huge haul of stolen items. Oprescu admitted 27 shop thefts worth approximately GBP25,000, when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court[5]. Meanwhile Radu pleaded guilty to seven shop thefts worth around GBP6,000.
Oprescu was jailed for two years and three months, while Radu’s sentencing was deferred for six months.
Join Teesside Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone
Teesside Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we’ll send you the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community group, you need to already have WhatsApp.
All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community[6]‘. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Teesside Live[7] team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice[8].
Click here to join our WhatsApp community[9]. Sergeant Louise Ellis, of the Nottingham City Priority Crime Team, said: “This was an intelligence-led investigation that involved more than 200 hours of work from ourselves and Tesco, who played a key role in gathering the evidence needed to put Oprescu and Radu before the courts. Together they caused significant harm to stores across the country and we are pleased to see them face the consequences of their persistent offending.
“Retail crime has been high on the public agenda and Nottinghamshire Police are leading the way in tackling the problem by working in partnership with large retailers. By working together and streamlining processes, we are able to bring offenders to justice quicker and easier than ever before. “We will continue working closely with partners in the retail sector to prevent business crime.”
For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here[10] to sign up to our free newsletter
References
- ^ GBP31,000 shoplifting spree (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stockton (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Tesco (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ North Yorkshire (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Nottingham Crown Court (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select ‘Join Community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Teesside Live (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ can read our Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ go here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)