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 £100,000 worth of booze.
Nicolae Budencea, 37, faces 32 months in prison for his involvement in an organised criminal group 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.
Between October 2022 and November 2024, the gang systematically targeted 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 £8,500 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.
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 37-year-old from Enfield, London, had been on remand since he was charged.
CCTV footage captured Budencea acting as a lookout during the thefts.
Phone downloads showed conversations between OCG members pointing out where security teams and staff members were positioned.
The gang would enter stores either once or multiple times, stealing between £500 and £7,000 worth of alcohol at a time.
Surrey Police worked closely with the heads of security for both major retailers during the investigation.
The additional 34 offences linked to Budencea were taken into consideration when he was sentenced.
The defendant’s sentence of 32 months and two weeks reflects the serious nature of the organised criminal operation.
Police believe the entire gang is believed to have ceased operations following the arrests.
The investigation was part of Operation Opal, the national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime.
Budencea’s arrest and conviction represent a significant blow to the organised crime group’s operations.
The case highlights the increasing sophistication of shoplifting gangs targeting major retailers across the UK.
Retailers have been working more closely with police to combat organised retail crime.
The news comes after a group of thugs threatened Tesco staff with a knuckle duster before stealing a basket full of stolen goods.
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