Thousands of pounds worth of make-up and cosmetics were found by police during a house raid, with more suspected stolen goods discovered when a car was stopped the next day.
Officers investigating a string of shop thefts across Nottinghamshire executed a warrant at an address in Gladstone Street, Peterborough, on 15 November.
The property was searched and approximately £9,000 worth of make-up and other cosmetics were seized – items police believe to have been stolen.
Two women aged 26 and 41 were arrested at the property on suspicion of multiple shop thefts.
The following day, police intelligence led to officers being deployed to Giltbrook Retail Park, on the outskirts of Nottingham, where a further two suspects were detained.
The officers stopped a grey Mercedes moments after it exited the retail park and arrested its two occupants, a 28-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, also on suspicion of multiple shop thefts.
Inside the car were approximately £10,000 worth of cosmetic products, also believed to be stolen.
The arrests were made by the Nottingham City Centre Reacher team, who have been investigating high-value thefts from Tesco, Boots and Superdrug stores across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
The outcomes of the four arrests were:
- Cristina Didu, aged 26, of Gladstone Street, Peterborough. Charged with four shop thefts. Granted conditional bail and due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 1 December.
- Florina Enciu, aged 41, of Gladstone Street, Peterborough. Charged with four shop thefts. Appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 16 November and pleaded guilty to three counts of theft. She was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years. The fourth count was withdrawn.
- Jianca Ilie, aged 28, of Ley Street, Ilford. Charged with seven shop thefts. Pleaded guilty to all counts at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 18 November. Granted conditional bail and due to be sentenced at the same court on 15 December.
- Marius Petre, aged 30, of Clarence Road, Peterborough. Charged with three shop thefts and one count of handling stolen goods. Pleaded guilty to all counts at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 18 November. Granted conditional bail and due to be sentenced at the same court on 15 December.
PC Abby Pinnock, of the City Centre Reacher team, said:
“This was an intelligence-led investigation working closely with large retail companies.
“By streamlining processes and working together, caseloads can be made more efficient which affords us more time for catching other criminals who cause harm to the public and businesses.
“Retail crime has been high on the public agenda and Nottinghamshire Police has been recognised nationally for introducing a range of measures to tackle shoplifting.
“This includes working in partnership with stakeholders to gather the evidence needed to secure convictions in court in an efficient manner.
“By taking this approach, we are able to bring offenders to justice quicker and easier than ever before.
“This will benefit everyone including small independent businesses as well as local stores in vulnerable communities.”
