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Three members of a shoplifting gang responsible for multiple thefts from TK Maxx stores have been sentenced.
Operating as a gang of three police caught up with the group in Great Yarmouth on November 4 2024 after they were recognised by store security.
On the day they had already targeted stores in Braintree, Ipswich, Lowestoft, and Chelmsford stealing high-end designer stock before travelling to the Gapton Hall Retail Park.
The three men were seen entering the store minutes apart from 2pm, and then leaving wearing different coats.
They were all arrested at the scene and the Audi they were travelling in was seized.
They were taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning and the following day Radu Botezatu, aged 24, of Stapleton Road, Borehamwood, Marian Croitoru, aged 39, and Constantin Marin, aged 36, both of Sullivan Way, Borehamwood, were each charged with one count of theft from a shop which they admitted.
While on bail they engaged with Norfolk’s Operation Converter, the unit which investigates when suspects are believed to be responsible for more, similar crimes, and each admitted to further instances of shoplifting.
Botezatu, asked for 12 further incidents to be taken into account. They all occurred at TK Maxx stores between April and November 2024 amounting to a loss to the chain of over £7,800.
Croiteru, admitted to 14 other offences, taking stock worth over £9,100.
And Marin admitted to six other offences comprising the four on 4 November and two others in Thurrock in October. The total taken by him was calculated at over £2,006.
In all cases they were caught on CCTV either attempting to conceal what they had taken or walking out wearing it.
They appeared at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court on Monday 27 January 2025 where they were handed the following:
Staff supervisor for Op Converter Duncan Etchells said: “There was one offence committed in Norfolk but working with our retail partners we were able to show the group was a serious, acquisitive, and organised gang targeting multiple locations in different police force areas.
“This was all in a day’s work for them, identifying what they wanted and being pretty audacious in the taking of it. Shoplifting is extremely unfair and can be frightening for those working in shops and it is a crime that we take very seriously here in Norfolk.
“I would also like to thank TK Maxx for their investigative work. Working together we can bring these offenders to justice have had a number of successes working in partnership in this way and sharing intelligence.”