Pair who stole purses from supermarket shoppers are jailed
Two people have been jailed for a string of distraction thefts across the region.
Bogdan Vranceanu and Atena Calin stole purses from shoppers in supermarkets in Shrewsbury, Malvern, Droitwich, Leominster, Kidderminster, Evesham and Hereford.
In most cases Calin, 20, would distract victims by making conversation while Vranceanu, 31, would cover the handbag with an item from the shops, including a magazine, pizza and a loaf of bread, while stealing the purse.
Both were jailed at Telford Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty for five counts of theft.
Vranceanu was ordered to serve 24 weeks in prison, while Calin will serve 12 weeks.
Both were already in prison at the time of conviction.
Vranceanu is already serving a prison sentence of 24 weeks after pleading guilty to four counts of theft at Telford Magistrates Court on September 28.
Calin is already serving a prison sentence of 12 weeks at HMP Foston Hall after pleading guilty to three counts of theft at Telford Magistrates Court on the same date.
Between September 13 and September 26 this year, 10 people had purses stolen, while shopping.
The pair were stopped by police on the M54, heading towards Birmingham, on September 26, arrested and taken into police custody.
Detective Sergeant Julie Shephard said: "Vranceanu and Calin are skilled fraudsters.
"Well-versed in deception, they managed to distract their victims and steal purses. They carefully planned these thefts, targeting different areas in an attempt not to be detected.
"We will be working with the immigration service around their deportation to Romania once their sentences have been served.
"It should be safe for us to go shopping and about our daily business, but the reality is there are people looking to take advantage, it only takes seconds for them to strike."
