A member of an organised crime gang who targeted electronics stores in a £150,000 smash and grab "phone steaming" plot has been jailed.
A group of young criminals, mainly from Romania, struck at a series of mobile phone shops across the North East, using violence and aggression to frighten workers and customers and steal valuables.
Two members of the gang - Ionathan Marin and Ionathan Stefan - were dealt with in September 2021 and now justice has finally caught up with Marius Dragusano after he went on the run. Others involved fled the country and were never caught.
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Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "The conspiracy to rob covered a period of 13 months and involved the deliberate targeting of mobile phone shops over a large geographical area. The organised crime group based themselves in Leeds and sent groups of males travelling to various stores in the North East and North West.
"They used threats and aggression before stealing mobile phones and tablets." Mr Walker said the gang stole phones and tablets worth £156,938.
The court heard Dragusano was involved in 15 offences of robbery and was a youth at the time. Stores targetted included, the 02 in Blyth, Carphone Warehouse in The Galleries, Washington, EE in Morpeth, 02 in Hartlepool, 02 in Seaham, Carphone Warehouse in County Durham and the 02 in Darlington
Dragusano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and also failing to attend court on two previous occasions, including in May 2021, after which he remained at large until October last year. The 21-year-old, who has nine previous convictions, including for a similar robbery in 2018 and attempted burglary last year, was jailed for 30 months.
Judge Edward Legard said: "Put simply you were part of an organised crime gang of mainly young Romanian men who, over a period of 13 months entered a number of mobile phone or similar retails establishments and, using force, aggression and threats of violence against staff and customers you proceeded to steal significant quantities of mobile devices, ipads, tablets and you deliberately targeted the most expensive items.
"This is a crime trend known as phone steaming. There may be some in the criminal fraternity who think mobile phone stores represent easy pickings. Anyone who subjects those who work in, or are customers of, those establishments, anyone who subjects them to violence or threats of violence or aggression, will be severely punished by the courts."
Penny Hall, defending, said Dragusano had first become involved in such offending when he was just 14, adding: "He was a young man who was pressured by others.
"Life has changed significantly. He moved to London to get away from associates and he started a new life, married his partner and they have children together."
Marin was previously sent to a young offenders institution for two years and nine months while Stefan was given a two year three month youth rehabilitation order, supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.
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