An eagle-eyed Whitehaven store worker has foiled a travelling jewellery thief, who has now been jailed for his crimes.
The employee of Dixon’, on Lowther Street, recognised the man after an alert had gone out about high value thefts across the country.
Laurentiu Caldararu, 42, visited a store in Cardiff on January 7, and one in Oxford 15 days later. He engaged with staff members of both businesses and was shown high value items of jewellery which he concealed in his hand.
At Cardiff he stole a single chain valued at £1,599, and in Oxford he made off with a chain and bracelet with a combined value of £3,875.
Caldararu was thwarted by an alert employee in Lancaster on February 3, who challenged him as he tried to steal a £1,450 chain when her back was turned.
On February 4, he was in Whitehaven. The employee recognised him and contacted the police.
Caldararu, of Hearsall Lane, Coventry was arrested and remained silent when quizzed by police. In court, he pleaded guilty to two offences of theft and one charge of attempted theft.
Romanian national Caldararu, who was assisted by an interpreter during the hearing, told Judge Nicholas Barker: “I am sorry for what I did. I accept committing these offences.”
Judge Barker imposed an immediate nine-month prison sentence.
He added: “Your presence in this country is illegal. You have no right to be here. You have no previous convictions and ai accept you are remorseful. You are likely to be released and removed from the UK, or transferred to a prison in Romania.”
