A shoplifter who stole more than £800 worth of alcohol from one store was found to be involved in a huge operation that took around £100,0000 worth of booze.
Nicolae Budencea, 37, faces 32 months in prison for his involvement in an organised criminal group (OCG) that targeted supermarkets throughout the country.
The defendant appeared at Guildford Crown Court on June 10, where he was sentenced following his guilty plea to 19 counts of conspiracy to commit theft at a previous hearing.
Budencea served as a lookout for the criminal group, which operated across multiple British locations over a two-year period.
Nicolae Budencea has been handed a 32-month prison sentence
Surrey Police
Between October 2022 and November 2024, systematically targeting major retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury's.
The gang struck stores in Coventry, Bedworth, Leicester and various other locations.
Budencea personally took items worth more than £800 from a Tesco in Coventry.
In one raid, they stole £8500 worth of alcohol in Ashford, Surrey.
Text message analysis revealed coordination between gang members, who communicated about the positions of security personnel and shop staff.
While Budencea's direct involvement accounted for roughly £100,000 in thefts, authorities believe the entire criminal network was responsible for stealing alcohol worth £495,000.
Surrey Police collaborated with Tesco and Sainsbury's during their investigation, which led to Budencea being linked to 34 additional offences throughout the UK.
The investigation required officers to examine extensive CCTV footage and gather multiple witness statements.
Budencea was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court
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PC Lacey, from Surrey Police, said: "The successful outcome in court is the result of a joint partnership that was formed between the neighbourhood policing investigation team from Staines-upon-Thames, Tesco and Sainsbury's, alongside Op Opal, the national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime.
"Our investigation involved viewing hours of CCTV and numerous statements being taken, which provided overwhelming evidence to prove the part that Budencea played in this prolific shoplifting OCG.
"His sentence highlights our determination to crack down on shoplifting and that this type of crime will not be tolerated."
The news comes after a group of thugs threatened Tesco staff with a knuckle duster before stealing a basket full of stolen goods.