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00:01When shoplifters strike...
00:03Police emergency.
00:05Our security guards have been stabbed in the leg.
00:07Oh, he smashed up a load of things.
00:10Grabbed our manager and then gone.
00:12The offending behaviour is getting out of control.
00:14When he was arrested, he was in possession of a lock knife.
00:18Can they be caught?
00:20I believe that you've been shoplifting this morning.
00:22So just stand up for me.
00:25It's really shocking how prison did got him.
00:28From the lone wolves...
00:31To organised crime gangs.
00:33They still almost order high-value items
00:36to get the biggest bang for their buck.
00:38Anyone up here?
00:39Aha! Bingo!
00:41Cigarettes.
00:44These guys had extensive criminal histories across Europe.
00:48This series follows the police forces...
00:50Let's go and get some results.
00:52...on the hunt...
00:53Stop, plain clothes, please, plain clothes, please.
00:55Stop, stop, you're under arrest for that.
00:56Do you know why we have stopped you?
00:59...attempting to protect the victims...
01:01Yes, yes.
01:02Jeff, you all right, mate?
01:03What's the mask of an ETA-wise?
01:04He wants five minutes.
01:05All that's unacceptable.
01:07This is life-threatening.
01:08...and bring down the criminals.
01:10Shoplifting is a crime.
01:11We want to bring offenders to justice,
01:12and that is not easy.
01:14Go to arrest.
01:15Go to arrest.
01:16Go to arrest.
01:17Go to arrest.
01:28Go to arrest.
01:29Go to arrest.
01:31Go to arrest.
01:34Go to arrest.
01:38Go to arrest.
01:45Go to arrest.
01:47Go to arrest.
01:48Go to arrest.
01:48Go to arrest.
01:48Go to arrest.
01:51Go to arrest.
01:51Go to arrest.
01:52Go to arrest.
01:53Go to arrest.
01:54Go to arrest.
01:56Go to arrest.
03:38No.
03:39Would you lay right in court?
03:40Oh, yes, I did.
03:41Anything you do say, maybe give it a sentence.
03:44All right.
03:45If it doesn't robbery, yeah.
03:47Right, and you're further under arrest for robbery.
03:49Wow.
03:50Robbery.
03:53A robbery accusation in shop theft means threats or violence may have been used.
04:00It can mean years in prison.
04:03Just watch red when you get in there.
04:04Just watch red when you get in there, pal.
04:22Just watch red when you get in there, pal.
04:40All right.
04:42Is there a reason you won't get up?
04:45Are you refusing to speak to us?
04:48Are you well?
04:49Are you okay?
04:50Do you need any medical attention?
04:52Well, yeah, I've been asking for the nurse since 1am this month since I come in.
04:56Right.
04:57I'm injured.
04:58What's up with you?
04:59Why are you ill?
04:59Because I'm withdrawing.
05:01I can't be injured.
05:02Where are you coming down from?
05:03I haven't.
05:15They're saying he's withdrawing, he's not very well.
05:17That's right.
05:17He refused to come over to the medic.
05:19Right, okay.
05:20So he has had the opportunity to speak to the medic.
05:22He has had the opportunity.
05:23We went to his cell and he just refused.
05:30to build a case officers examine evidence from the suspects two-week crime spree
05:40I've got five investigations here so we've got two that have happened on the 16th both at the
05:48same place but at different times then we've got the 14th yeah 11th is the same co-op a lot
05:56of them
05:57all at the same place and he's kind of gone in on multiple occasions he knows the store yeah knows
06:03what he wants and how he's going to go about it yeah so I'm I did us backpack yes very
06:11obviously
06:12him as well yeah it just shows you how brazen they are there as well no attempt to
06:18hide his identity he's just took something off that shelf right in front of a staff member so
06:23he's just not bothered is he robbery from the 18th that's our chap there
06:31confronted by shop owner he's just taking a swing at this chap
06:46and he just carries on not caring the world
07:00in order to make his escapees being violent was one of these shop assistants it looks like over
07:06the last week or so this chap's been on a bit of a rampage in total Michael is linked to
07:11eight
07:12shop thefts one with threat of violence so we've only got a short time to deal with it so it's
07:17important we get hold of all of the evidence and statements as quickly as we can he's got the
07:22same backpack on in every footage we'll just go and have a look if it's the same one because if
07:25it
07:25is we can we'll seize it
07:31let's turn the engine off it's got information the vehicles involved in shop theft
07:37two romanian suspects are linked to eighty thousand pounds worth of stolen supermarket goods
07:43this is the biggest case i've worked on today
07:51so
08:00so
08:02so
08:16he's gone in twice on the same day so this one's at half five and then he's gone back at
08:2021 11.
08:22officers are preparing to question their suspect arrested for multiple thefts
08:27and a robbery they're almost halfway through the 24-hour custody clock you see him go straight
08:34to the same aisle same backpack
08:38and he's picked up a whole tray there and just took it i wouldn't be surprised that
08:43that bag's already in his pocket yeah well let's check i'll go down custody check
08:48yeah michael was carrying a bag when he was arrested pc chris holton needs to work out if it's a
08:59match
09:01backpack that has been booked in with is potentially the same one he's been using to shoplift
09:09you know the bags empty it's it will have been emptied by staff so that's the
09:15that is likely to be what was in it
09:26it's a different backpack
09:35it's a different backpacks than what we've seen so far on cctv so at present with what we know right
09:41now we've got no necessity to seize it but that might always change later on as we review a bit
09:46more cctv it's a different bag black puma bag it's not the one that we've seen so far you're probably
09:58better getting the interview out of the way and then we can just focus on getting the case right
10:01because we've got all the statements we need what i really want to do in the interview though is just
10:06put it to him because it's so obviously him yeah i get that it's overwhelming isn't it yeah he can't
10:12really deny it can he
10:21all right magic thank you guys the solicitors here so chris is about to go into interview now
10:29once he's been interviewed obviously we'll have an idea of what his account is
10:33and then we'll go through to our sergeant and make a decision on whether we're going
10:37to charge based on the evidence that we've got and all the cctv
10:43go on thank you
10:46police have less than 12 hours left to keep michael detained without charge
10:51so he's initially been arrested on suspicion of robbery right and then there's a series of
11:00shopliftings right what are we talking about as far as by use concerned the most is about 250 pounds
11:08others are in the region of between 40 and 70. is it captured on cctv yes and we're going to
11:18have
11:19a lot of time and tomorrow morning we'll be seeking a remand all right because i can have about
11:2415 20 minutes with you yeah no problem at all okie dokies okay thank you very much
11:38police must put their evidence to michael and his solicitor in interview
11:44but he's still refusing to leave his cell hello i'll close the door too a little bit
12:01if he's fit and well and who's able to be interviewed then we'll interview him in his cell
12:06that our process doesn't stop just because he won't come out
12:35in 2024 a man was accused for his part in the theft
12:40of over 78 000 pounds of high value supermarket goods
12:47romanian national andre theodore kretu was on the radar of opel the specialist police unit that
12:54targets shoplifting ocgs christmas first brought to our ascension by morrison's as part of that
13:02investigation uh we looked into uh kretu's travel patterns and where he was going and where he was
13:09offending we understood that he was traveling up from the midlands to humberside at that point in
13:15time he was mostly offending as a lone offender causing a significant amount of harm and we were
13:22able to identify a vehicle that was linked to and add a mark to the vehicle
13:31on the 30th of august 2024 kretu's car was stopped by humberside police
13:38it was reported as being involved in a local supermarket theft
13:44just turn the engine off let's please we've got the keys wonderful it's got information the
13:48vehicles involved in shop thefts okay speak english yeah okay
13:55so we're going to search yourselves in the vehicle and look for any either stolen items or items used
14:03going equipped to steal okay do you understand that okay the really really critical point in the
14:08investigation that allowed us to kind of really open it up when we'd identified the vehicle that
14:12kretu was using and we'd use our contacts in humberside to sit up on the vehicle in kretu's car was
14:20a
14:20woman police were not expecting to find elena googolan is also wanted when we did find who was in the
14:28vehicle it was obviously kretu and passenger who was googolan so for us that was a bit of a game
14:33changer
14:35that was really really pivotal as a key part of the investigation we had liaised with our partners in
14:43morrison's and upon reviewing the cctv footage they identified that that this individual was known to
14:50them for previous offenses but could the police find any stolen goods in the car
15:22this interview has been recorded in cell 24 at preston police station
15:26you've had the opportunity to leave your cell you've refused to do so
15:31in the cells suspected shoplifter michael is being held for multiple shop thefts and a robbery
15:39just uncover your head it's really important that we do this properly
15:48we're here to get your account of things today so the majority of the offenses that you've been
15:53arrested for shoplifting which is theft you've also been arrested for a robbery that would be a theft
15:58involving force if the officers can't secure charges the suspect will be released on the 22nd of the
16:077th king street lancaster did you enter uh 2014 hours when you've entered have you headed straight for a
16:17specific aisle so the allegation is that you've stolen protein bars to a value of around 256 pounds
16:28but you've entered the store you've made specifically to that area of the shop and in
16:35around 50 seconds you've stolen all of those items taking them in your hands and left have you done that
16:42i'll make you aware of the CCTV where it does appear to quite clearly be yourself
16:49do you sometimes go to the same place more than once in a day
16:57when you went in did you intend to steal things like cooked meats cheese and coffee
17:03yeah okay what was the reason that you intended to take those specific items
17:10essentially you've admitted to entering that store and taking those items
17:14yeah how much heroin do you take do you take every day yeah how much do you take
17:21uh uh what's that cost you a day
17:31pc holton moves on to the more serious robbery charge so what do you remember
17:37um okay okay uh one guy come around before i've even put it in my head right he's come around
17:48saying boy you put that back i've told him the fuck off now i've got two of them they've basically
17:54blocked me there have you made threats to either of those members of staff just to be clear
18:02no one said they put the hands up and then you've like smacked the hand out of the way have
18:07you done
18:07that no nothing else from you right it's 14 55 hours it's 2 55 pm okay i'll end the interview
18:16there
18:18michael now has just under 10 hours left of his custody clock hi matey so what was he like in
18:24interview he's denied the robbery said he wasn't violent wasn't aggressive to the staff members hasn't
18:30threatened them hasn't assaulted them so he's denied the robbery aspects but he's had all the thefts
18:37he's given a full account of most of them remembered most of them said he does it to fund his
18:42drug habit
18:48michael was later convicted of seven shop thefts and sentenced to eight weeks in prison
18:54he awaits his sentence for robbery my concern is he's a by his own admission is a drug addict he's
19:03committed these offenses he said in order to fuel his drug habit and i don't think eight weeks of which
19:10he'll probably serve four perhaps three is enough to actually break that habit and get him into a
19:17different routine it probably isn't sufficient to rehabilitate him and he'll probably just come out and do it
19:23again i'd like to think he won't and i would love to think that he's learned a lesson and will
19:28seek
19:28help however instincts and experience tells me we'll be dealing with him again shortly
19:39there you go and he's nicked it straight out good facial shot of him there
19:44a stand-off with a wanted thief who's terrorized the same shop eight times what the are you doing
20:19all
20:21Yeah, yeah. Fantastic.
20:26Operation Vulture is targeting the most serious
20:28and habitual shop thieves in Lancashire.
20:32I saw him yesterday, so he's clearly out.
20:35So we'll put him down there, and I know he's out as well.
20:40He's been locked up over in Blackpool, hasn't he? Yeah, he's...
20:43So, again, we can get rid of him for now
20:45and take him off our tasking.
20:47So, yeah, let's have a look at a few of the upcoming ones, mate,
20:49and start getting out there to the other patrols as well.
20:51I'll get updated.
20:52The team have a new Most Wanted, Ben.
20:56He's one of the most prolific we've got
20:58in Preston at the moment, isn't he?
20:59For the past four weeks,
21:01because he's got probably about eight jobs for him, maybe more.
21:05All from the same shop as well.
21:06I think we'll get a positive result for him soon, boss.
21:10We've got a few on it,
21:10so they'll hopefully get him in the next few days and lock him up.
21:13All right, spot on, mate.
21:15Brilliant. Thanks, boss.
21:40So this one should be hopefully him entering the store.
21:43Yeah, that's him on the bike there.
21:48It looks like he's, like, scoping it out, doesn't he?
21:51Seeing if they've got a security guard on.
21:54And there you go, straight in, hood up.
22:01Straight in his pants.
22:02That's right, Ben.
22:06There you go, and he's nicked there.
22:08Straight out.
22:09There you go.
22:10Good facial shot of him there.
22:14We'll go that way.
22:16With strong CCTV evidence against the suspect, Ben,
22:20police have enough to bring him in.
22:22Hang on. What's up?
22:25We're that way.
22:33The plan of action if we can grab him would be
22:35lock him up for the ones that we know he's done,
22:37and then we can do some digging around the other ones that have come in
22:40and see if he's done them as well.
22:43I've had a look through, and it's mainly just food, groceries.
22:47This one says cheesecakes, there's others for meats and stuff
22:49that he's just hiding on his person and leaving.
22:58The police arrive at Ben's address.
23:24I think he's gone out once.
23:25He's gone out?
23:26He's gone out.
23:26How long have you gone?
23:27I heard him earlier on.
23:28It's only about 6pm.
23:29I haven't seen him since.
23:31I'm near the door bank.
23:32Right.
23:32We'll go have a look through.
23:33Cheers.
23:33Nice one.
23:47Back at the station, the hunt is on for more evidence.
23:51He's prolifically hitting one of the Tesco stores in Preston.
23:56We've got about eight jobs for him now.
23:58So 10% of the shoplifters from Tesco are or have been committed potentially by him.
24:08Four hours later, police receive a tip-off and are called back to the flat.
24:14I've just had a call from Claire from the Housing Association.
24:18He says she's going to do an eviction at his home address.
24:22So we're going to go now and see if he's in and serve the eviction on him.
24:25And if he's in, he'll be coming in.
24:30With deaths, we don't have a power of entry.
24:33But the Housing Association have given us consent to go in.
24:37Because he's committing offences in the community, it's a breach of his tenancy.
24:40So he's had previous warnings about other things.
24:46I think Claire's had enough of him, to be honest.
25:01If you don't answer, we can snap it and then we can just wait for them to come.
25:10That's fine.
25:20Keep an eye on the back.
25:22Yeah, jump out.
25:24Window's right back.
25:25It's Claire at gateway, are you in?
25:35Jack is here at window.
25:36Stay where you are.
25:37Beautiful.
25:38Stay there.
25:40What are you doing, man?
25:41What's up with you?
25:41What's up with you?
25:44What's up with you?
25:44Aren't you fucking coming like that?
26:10In 2024, two suspected shop thieves with possible links to an international crime group were stopped by traffic police in
26:18Humberside.
26:21The vehicle's full of items that are suspected to be stolen.
26:23So at the minute, at 14.06 hours, you're both under arrest on suspicion of shop theft.
26:31Put that out for me.
26:33Now, same thing, Miami defensive.
26:34If you don't mention one question, sit down.
26:37Something like that, or anything you do to say, maybe we never know if it's okay.
26:40Everything will be explained to you.
26:43Another one?
26:45Another side, just underneath.
26:47Yeah.
26:47Police found over 1,300 pounds worth of stolen goods from a local supermarket.
26:54Let's pop your phone on.
26:55I have two kids.
26:57I want you to understand.
26:58Wait a minute.
26:59You can't use it, okay?
27:00What the fuck I did?
27:01No, no, I will sort it.
27:02I have, I told you I have three kids, yeah?
27:03Yeah, I know, okay.
27:04Do you understand this?
27:05Yeah, I do.
27:06I don't see...
27:06Do you understand you're under arrest?
27:07Yeah, I understand.
27:08That means you can't make a phone call.
27:09I will sort out your childcare for you.
27:12I'll search you, mate.
27:13Give me cars and I think, yeah, good.
27:15The two suspects were detained by Humberside police, who at this stage were unaware of their
27:20nationwide crime spree.
27:23The first time I set my eyes on Kretu and Gugalan was in custody.
27:27I was tasked to go to Grimsby and interview him.
27:32My role is to deal with prisoners that come in on a daily basis.
27:38You interview him and you speak to your sergeant about the evidence and either you charge him
27:42or you bail him or you, you know, further action them depending on what evidence is available.
27:48Both Kretu and Gugalan were interviewed.
27:50Two further shop thefts were discovered, one locally and one 200 miles away in Essex.
27:59At the time, Kretu was charged with the three counts of shop theft and Gugalan was charged with two counts
28:05of shop theft.
28:05Both suspects were remanded to prison.
28:08It then became clear to Humberside police their regional offending was merely the tip of the iceberg.
28:15I've been sat on my computer and this is when this email's pinged in from the intelligence officer from OPAL
28:20that Kretu and Gugalan's offending is much wider than we thought.
28:25I've shown their shop-lifting spree from the bottom of the country to the top of the country.
28:30They had one objective and that was to steal.
28:34We liaised with the OIC in Humberside who obviously thought they had some local offences,
28:38but actually we had a scope of national offences dating back to 2019.
28:43So it was a very different investigation to probably what they thought it was going to be when it began.
28:48PC Elijah Hartley faced the huge challenge of collating evidence against Kretu and Gugalan from 23 police forces.
28:56This is the biggest case I've worked on today.
28:59So that was a bit daunting at the time.
29:03To strengthen the case, PC Hartley had to prove the suspects intended to steal from supermarkets nationwide.
29:10There was 700 clips of CCTV footage of their offending.
29:15I had to review every single file.
29:18This is the CCTV from the day they were arrested.
29:22You've got both Gugalan and Kretu at the VOD item.
29:28Kretu selecting numerous items and placing them into a trolley, which Gugalan is then organising.
29:34They then hide it with some nappies on top, which covers a whole bag.
29:41And then they just leave with no attempts to pay.
29:44You can see they're very organised for what they're doing.
29:52Organised crime gangs operate in a very sophisticated manner.
29:56They use vehicles to travel up and down the country.
29:59This isn't a case of just going in and grabbing a couple of items and then leaving the store.
30:04They go in with clear plans and set items that they know stealing means that they'll be able to sell
30:09on very quickly.
30:10They go around the shop collecting beauty items, razors, sometimes printering, high value small goods.
30:20This is a similar MO to what the other offences are across the other forces.
30:24You can see Kretu with a shopping trolley with multiple bags for life in it and a couple of large
30:32bags of nappies.
30:33He looks at a bottle of whisky and then places one of them into his bag, but then proceeds to
30:39select another three, four bottles of whisky and places them in his bag.
30:45He's going in with a shopping list in his head of what he's taking.
30:54On this footage, he goes to the self-checkout. However, he then looks around, probably to see if there's any
31:00staff members, and then he just walks off without making any attempts to pay for anything.
31:05Kretu and Gugilan were seen to be part of the same organised crime group of people.
31:11However, they were never seen together until the 30th of August, 2024, when they were ultimately arrested.
31:18That's the only time any CCTVs put them both together at the same place.
31:22The CCTV evidence was strong, but to secure the biggest charges, police needed them to talk.
31:30Elena Gugilan was brought from prison to be interviewed by PC Hartley, but the case suffered a setback.
31:36Gugilan was an old combat interview.
31:38She gave me the attitude that she can't be bothered being there anymore, and she just wants to go back
31:48to prison.
31:49To connect both suspects to the catalogue of thefts totalling £78,000, all would depend on the interview with Andre
31:58Theodore Kretu.
32:08Gugilan!
32:10Gugilan!
32:12Gugilan!
32:24Gugilan!
32:26Gugilan!
32:27Gugilan!
32:29Gugilan!
32:41Gugilan!
32:52Gugilan!
32:55Gugilan!
32:55You circulate him...
32:56The police have to because I'm going to change that lock, because we should have a key!
32:57We should have a key...
32:58Change it, then!
32:58Are you going to come and open the door?
33:00Ah, fucking, it's all running.
33:01Ah, fucking blackmailing me, right?
33:04Yeah, fucking...
33:05How's it blackmailing you....
33:06Yeah, blackmailing me, right?
33:06Just awful blackmailing.
33:09But not having this discussion through my window.
33:11Open the door.
33:12I'm not opening the fucking door!
33:13Yeah, well, then they're gonna change the lock, then?
33:14You're not in here.
33:16Well, we're coming in, then.
33:17Come in, then.
33:18Right.
33:19Due to Ben's persistent offending against one store,
33:23the police need to take him into custody.
33:25The Housing Association grant them access to the apartment.
33:30He had his legs out of the back, didn't he?
33:32But I got here.
33:33Last chance, come on.
33:35There's police at the back, mate.
33:36I'm not bothered.
33:37Well, you need to come down,
33:38otherwise we're going to end up damaging this door.
33:40Well, we'll have to, won't we?
33:42All right.
33:44Grab one of them.
34:05Here's your hands.
34:11Stand up, bud.
34:14Just listen to my mate.
34:16In the minute, you're under arrest for shotlifting.
34:19All right?
34:20Do not have to say anything, but it may on your defence.
34:23You're not mentioning one question.
34:24Something you're late for the line in court.
34:26Anything you do say, mate, given evidence.
34:27All right?
34:28Yeah.
34:31It would have been the same outcome.
34:32Whether he'd have come to the door,
34:34jumped out the window,
34:35he would have still been arrested.
34:37But it went smoothly,
34:39and now he's in custody.
34:43Fine, you're in.
34:44All right, mate.
34:45All right, we'll get you on first.
34:47All right, mate.
34:56We're going to go through now,
34:58follow the van in,
34:59we'll get him booked in,
35:01and then we'll tidy up the investigation
35:03and get him interviewed.
35:06He's been arrested for one offence.
35:08It's just an easier process when we get to custody.
35:12And then he'll be re-arrested for the further offences.
35:15At least seven, but it may be more.
35:27Just this way, mate.
35:31You all right?
35:33And where was the offence taking place?
35:35At Tesco, on Longridge Road,
35:38Ribbleton, Preston.
35:39We've got to do some other enquiries
35:41on at least seven other thefts
35:43from the same store.
35:45Ribbleton.
35:48All right.
35:50I'm going to authorise your detention
35:51to the police station,
35:52so then we're going to have to ask you
35:53some questions in a tape-recorded interview.
35:55All right.
35:56Yeah.
35:57Any jewellery?
35:59No.
35:59No?
36:06You know, he's jacking.
36:07Yeah, put it on for the time being.
36:09Got no objections to you waiting.
36:12You having any alcohol or drugs today?
36:14I've got a drug.
36:15Have you had?
36:17Error and crack.
36:18Error and crack.
36:19It's this morning.
36:20Yeah.
36:24Police have 24 hours to question Ben
36:27and seek charges.
36:29We'll now get him interviewed
36:30and hopefully he is commanded
36:33to court tomorrow.
36:38So over the 17 shop thefts,
36:41you've took over £78,000 worth of goods.
36:45A breakthrough in the nationwide
36:47supermarket shop theft.
36:49Just keep your eye on that thought here.
36:51No, but yeah, but as you can.
36:54Yes, it seems to be me.
37:13In the case of the Romanian-organised shop thieves,
37:17key suspect Andre Theodore Cretu
37:19was already in prison
37:20for regional shop theft offences.
37:23The time is 12.11.
37:26I'm a present interview room
37:27at Cliff Road Police Station.
37:30In October 2024,
37:32he was accused of attempting
37:33to steal a further £18,000 worth of goods
37:36from supermarkets nationwide.
37:38You've got that nerves
37:39and you're like,
37:41am I going to make sure
37:41I'm asking everything?
37:43The success of the case
37:44needed his account.
37:47On the 18th of the 12th,
37:49where were you?
37:49I don't remember.
37:50I don't remember.
37:52Were you in Brochester?
37:54I don't remember.
37:55I don't remember.
37:56Did you take anything
37:58to the value of £1,091?
38:00I don't remember.
38:01I don't remember.
38:05I don't remember.
38:05This is a new stall.
38:06On the 15th of March, 2024,
38:09you've entered Warrington
38:10and began to select a rice range
38:12of two brush heads,
38:13nicotine items,
38:15and oil items.
38:16Do you remember taking them?
38:17See, let's meet the cell if you want.
38:20I don't remember.
38:22Because of the amount
38:23of offending that's happened,
38:24it was going to be a long interview.
38:27So, for the table,
38:28I'll show you CCO2.
38:29There's a gentleman just there.
38:31I believe that to be you.
38:32Would you agree?
38:37I can't tell.
38:38The image is very dark.
38:41I can't tell.
38:42If I'm looking at this a bit
38:43and looking at yourself
38:44standing and sitting in front of me,
38:45I would believe that this is you.
38:51You are showing me
38:53very little things.
38:54If you can show me
38:56something more clearer,
38:59then I'll admit
39:00to what I've done.
39:05just keep your eye on that
39:06thought here.
39:07How do you see it?
39:09How do you see it?
39:10How do you see it?
39:15Yes, it seems to be me,
39:18but I don't remember
39:18if I've come to buy
39:20or what I did.
39:22With CRETO acknowledging
39:24he was in the CCTV,
39:26the investigators at last
39:28had a foothold.
39:30these offenses have been committed all around the country you should know if you've been to
39:35those locations no matter when the date is and if you've been and you've taken anything from any
39:41star at any point i've had a great period i've never had a lot of money i've stayed with my
39:48husband
39:48and my wife for a half year i didn't have great money and i've been living with my wife and
39:54my
39:54one and a half year old daughter i've worked on the black market cash in hand if you will
40:07because i didn't have the necessary documents to work is that you
40:18you all look very organizing what you're doing and hiding i would say that you're all part of one
40:27group and you you know what you're doing and your main goal is to make money i repeat i don't
40:38have
40:38any connection with any group i don't know any group uh and i'm not involved in anything so over
40:45the 17 shop thefts you've took over 78 000 pounds worth of goods again how do you explain that
41:02when he's gone yeah it was me it was just a sign of relief and he made me feel
41:09like we've got somewhere with this the crown prosecution service charged cretu and his
41:16accomplice elena googolan both suspects appeared at crown court pc hartley was able to secure over 30
41:24shop theft charges for the two suspects that is incredible piece of work and to have worked with
41:30so many police forces and partner agencies to gather all of that information meant that the suspects didn't
41:35just get charged with humberside offenses they actually were charged with offenses from all over
41:40the country and that is down to his hard work for shoplifting offenses googolan was sentenced to three
41:46years and four months in prison cretu was sentenced to a total of two years and four months and could
41:52be
41:52deported on his release there's a good sentence and it's a good outcome for the job it shows that if
41:59you're gonna do such a thing you're gonna get punished for your actions and receive prison centers for it
42:29he is very much a prolific offender who's targeted the same store numerous times
42:34and sometimes uses disguises operation vultures most wanted shop thief ben is in the interview room
42:42with pc kimberley dasso he faces charges of multiple thefts so before i caution you i'm going to arrest you
42:50for a further seven incidents of shoplifting so you're being interviewed regarding an allegation of
42:55eight times shoplifting are you guilty of these offenses no we've got cctv footage which shows a male
43:04identified to be yourself picking up two cases of corona lagers before running out of the store and
43:08making no attempt to pay um can you confirm that was you in the footage no i'm in we've got
43:17cctv showing a male
43:19identified to be yourself and select eight cheesecake items from the dessert fridge and place them down
43:24on his trousers before leaving the store making no attempt to pay can you confirm that that's you in
43:29the footage no there is cctv footage available showing a male identified to yourself and select numerous
43:37grocery items to the value of 86 pound 50 before leaving the store and making no attempt to pay do
43:42not to comment on this i showed him the cctv footage of him in the shop he had no reaction
43:50to seeing
43:51this footage he said no comments at all questions i've asked i'll go and review the case speak to my
43:56sergeant and we're going to seek a charge for all eight shop liftings ben is charged with eight shop
44:03thefts from the same store he is kept in custody overnight until caught in the morning
44:13he has gone to language magistrates court there he was given bill conditions not to enter any tesco
44:21store in preston and then he'll next be seen in court in about seven weeks town
44:28he can't just keep going in and out of shops taking anything he wants he has these bill conditions to
44:33adhere to and if he doesn't then he'll be brought forth court operation vultures most wanted was later
44:39convicted of all eight shop thefts he was given a 16-week suspended sentence and ordered to undertake
44:46a drug rehabilitation program
44:53next week will officers tackle an armed gang when the firearms unit are unavailable police
44:58interceptors nowhere to hide new next monday at nine and sharon d clark is back as dci ellis the new
45:05drama
45:05continues tomorrow and wednesday at nine stream the series so far now on five next tonight 999 police
45:11hour of duty stay with us
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