Nicolea Ilea, Alin Mahai, Florin Costea; Gabriel Mocanu; Stefan Florin and Marius Meiosu (Cheshire Police) A crime gang who stole more than £160,000 worth of items from supermarkets, including locations in Accrington and Rawtenstall have been jailed. The court heard that the gang of Romanian background travelled across the country stealing high value items from supermarkets, primarily targeting Asda stores. Nicolea Ilea, 36, of Birmingham; Alin Mahai, 27, of Liverpool; Florin Costea, 51 of Oldham; Stefan Florin, 31, of HMP Risley; Marius Meiosu, 25, and Gabriel Mocanu, 36, both of Oldham all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 13 April. They were each sentenced to 42 months in prison.
Stoke-on-Trent targeted by crime gang who came to UK to steal
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Gang of thieves from Oldham struck at Asda stores across the UK
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Clockwise from left; Nicolae Ilie, Stefan Florin, Gabriel Mocanu, Florin Costea, Alin Mihai and Marius Meirosu A GANG of thieves who ran a ‘planned and professional’ shoplifting operation across the length and breadth of the UK has been jailed for more than 20 years. Alin Mihai, Nicolae Ilie, Gabriel Mocanu, Marius Meirosu, Stafan Florin and Florin Costea – all Romanian nationals – conspired to steal items from Asda supermarkets in all corners of England, Scotland and Wales. They succeeded in pilfering goods to a minimum value of £161,678 during a near four-month period before their scheme was rumbled by police. Among the stores targeted was Asda Birchwood, where at least £4,054 worth of products was stolen – none of which could be recovered.