‘Lost Tourists’ Busted for £50K Phone and Cash Heist
Two crafty crooks thought they could pull off a £50,000 distraction theft spree posing as clueless tourists. Florin Petrache, 34, and Gabriel Stanescu, 22, have now been locked up after targeting shops and offices across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and the Thames Valley.
The Scam: ‘Italian Tourist’ Steals Phones and Wallets
Petrache played the part of an Italian tourist called Mario, pretending to need help translating documents. While distracting victims in beauty salons, estate agents, dental surgeries, and even a library, he’d cover their phones or wallets with a leaflet before skillfully nicking them. Stanescu waited nearby in a green Lexus, ready to zoom off with the haul.
Their spree ended when a sharp-eyed victim noted their getaway car’s registration, tipping off police.
Sentenced to Jail
At Norwich Crown Court, Petrache admitted eight thefts, plus 31 other offences, and was jailed for two years. Stanescu pleaded guilty to six thefts and faced 27 more charges before receiving 21 months behind bars. Both come from East Anglia — Petrache from Great Yarmouth, Stanescu from Ipswich.
Investigation and Police Praise
The pair were arrested in March along the A149 after stealing from a Dersingham business. Police found a stash of stolen mobile phones matching reports from days and months prior. Petrache had a history of similar thefts in 2020, although Stanescu denied involvement back then.
Sgt Holly Metcalf said: “These offences remind everyone to keep valuables out of sight and stay vigilant when using expensive gadgets in public.”
Operation Converter supervisor Duncan Etchells added: “Phones worth over £1,000 make easy targets. Locking these two up will stop more victims.”
