A man who carried out a number of thefts in Calverton has been jailed.
Dragos Stoica, formerly of Alfreton Road, Nottingham pleaded guilty yesterday (8 November) at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
The 29-year-old pleaded to six counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to pay £630 to his victims.
Nottinghamshire Police launched an investigation following a number of reports where a man asked people to change a note for coins and when they pulled out their wallets or purses he snatched the contents.
As a result, officers identified a series of distraction type thefts targeting elderly people across the county, including Calverton throughout October and November.
A few days after officers released an image of a man they wanted to speak to in connection with the thefts, members of the public recognised Stoica in Ruddington and detained him in High Street after he attempted to steal from a 77-year-old woman. He was arrested at the scene and charged later on that day.
Detective Constable Simon Carter said: “Stoica consistently targeted the elderly, taking advantage of their kind and vulnerable nature. One gentleman even went as far as inviting Stoica into his home to wait whilst he found some change for him.
“Whilst we would never suggest that members of the public put themselves in harm’s way, I want to say a massive thank you to the people who intervened in Ruddington on Tuesday and assisted in detaining the suspect until officers arrived. They are a great credit to their community.”
