Couple jailed for £48,000 jewellery theft spree

A couple who stole a Rolex watch and jewellery worth over £48,000 have been jailed for two years and three months.

Vadar-ghimes Agafitei and Zinca Agafitei, both 46, and of Penge Road, South Norwood, London, admitted three counts of theft and two counts of burglary following incidents in Warwickshire, Sussex, Wiltshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.

On one occasion in July, the pair distracted a store assistant to steal £15,000 worth of gold chains from a shop in Thetford.

Sgt Gary Morris from Norfolk Police said he hoped the "complex case" would demonstrate that anyone "travelling to this county to commit crime will be dealt with robustly".

Police said all five thefts took place this year between 14 May and 29 July.

This first occurred at a jewellery shop in Warwickshire where the couple stole a £11,500 Rolex watch.

A month later they stole a £2,000 gold bracelet from a jewellery shop in Sussex.

In Wiltshire four weeks later, Vadar-ghimes Agafitei purposefully knocked over a display stand to distract a jewellery shop worker so he could steal 10 bracelets worth more than £20,000.

Four days before the couple targeted the shop in Thetford, they stole a bank card from a woman in her 80s in Newmarket, Suffolk, after watching her enter her pin number at a cash machine.

They later withdrew £700 from her account.

Norfolk Police said it used covert tactics to track and identify the suspects, who, in October, were arrested on the M6 in Cheshire.

They were taken to King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning and were later charged and remanded into custody.

The pair were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court.

Sgt Morris said: "This was a complex case where the offenders have travelled far and wide, often changing vehicles and locations to try and avoid detection.

"My thanks go out to the investigating officer, PC Luke Brown, along with the other forces involved.

"As a result of their efforts, the pair have been caught and will now serve custodial sentences."

Vadar-ghimes Agafitei also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

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