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Florin Petrache, of Great Yarmouth and Gabriel Stanescu, of Ipswich, jailed after distraction burglaries across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and Thames Valley




Two men who stole more than £50,000 during a distraction theft campaign across multiple counties have been jailed.

Florin Petrache, 34, and Gabriel Stanescu, 22, admitted to 14 thefts between them at Norwich Crown Court.

The court was told how the pair worked together visiting business premises such as beauty salons, estate agents, dental surgeries and even a library to steal phones and personal belongings across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and the Thames Valley.

Florin Petrache. Picture: Norfolk Police
Florin Petrache. Picture: Norfolk Police

Petrache, of no fixed address but from Great Yarmouth, typically went under the assumed identity of Mario when making a move on a business.

He would enter pretending to be Italian and claiming to need help with a translation before covering someone’s wallet or phone with paper to conceal and steal it.

During the pair’s spree, Stanescu, of Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, acted as the driver, the court heard.

Gabriel Stanescu. Picture: Norfolk Police
Gabriel Stanescu. Picture: Norfolk Police

After one mobile phone theft in Dersingham, a victim reported the number plate of a green Lexus they believed was involved to police.

Officers caught up to the pair on March 12 on the A149 between Cromer and North Walsham.

Once stopped, a number of handsets matching those reported stolen were seized, alongside others.

The pair were then arrested.

Further investigations across multiple forces linked the pair to a series of thefts in February and March of this year, the court was told.

Petrache was also linked to a similar spree in October 2020, which Stanescu denied being involved in, owing to him being in Romania.

However, in custody, they worked with officers as part of Operation Converter and admitted to 58 other thefts.

Petrache, who admitted to eight counts of theft and asked for 31 to be taken into consideration, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment today.

Stanescu, who admitted to six thefts and asked for 27 to be taken into account, was jailed for 21 months.

Sgt Holly Metcalf and PC Vicky Sweetland who led the investigation said it was a complex and detailed case involving different forces.

It involved analysis of multiple victims, CCTV and eye-witness testimonies.

They said: "These types of offences are a stark reminder to keep your valuables out of sight and be aware when using expensive items in public.”

Duncan Etchells, staff supervisor for Operation Converter, described Petrache and Stanescu as prolific offenders who locked onto the fact that unsuspecting people had their phones close to them as they went about their day-to-day lives.

“However with many handsets now worth well over £1,000 it is easy to become a target,” he said.

“With both now behind bars the number of phones stolen will be reduced and shows Norfolk Police’s commitment to bringing to justice those who steal from our citizens.”