A “professional” phone thief who carried out distraction offences stealing mobile phones from office premises in Warrington has been jailed.
Florin Mariescu of Dewsbury was recently sentenced to 20 weeks HMP following a series of phone thefts from offices in Warrington and Nantwich in late May 2023.
Florin attended two offices in Warrington town centre and also a travel agents in Nantwich. Each time, he approached and distracted female staff at their desks by holding a piece of paper detailing cleaning services – he used this paper as a cover to steal their phones that had been kept on their desks – sometimes called ‘Table Surfing’.
A trawl of Warrington CCTV identified a car that was linked to each visit there.
Officers of Lancashire Constabulary soon stopped the car in Preston. They were later able to identify Florin for police in Warrington and he was circulated as Wanted.
Upon interview, he denied any part of the offences. He was charged and later failed to attend court – the case was run in his absence.
A spokesperson for Warrington Police said: “This was a professional phone thief who had no regard for the financial hardships his crimes would inflict on his victims. At least now he knows to give Cheshire a wide berth.”
