A prolific shoplifter who travelled extensively across the UK to commit his crimes has been sentenced to prison. Romanian national Alexandru-Iulian Dima, 25, was apprehended by South Wales Police in Pontypridd, marking the end of his nationwide crime spree. Upon completing his sentence, he will be deported back to Romania.
Dima's arrest was captured by plain-clothed officers in Pontypridd, following a meticulously planned sting operation. South Wales Police, acting on intelligence, anticipated that the town would soon become a target for the travelling thief.
The breakthrough came when staff at the Boots store in Pontypridd spotted Dima in their shop. Using a town-wide radio system that links retailers directly with patrolling officers, they alerted the police. Dima attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended in a nearby car park by officers who had been lying in wait.
This arrest put an end to a year-long campaign of shoplifting that saw Dima steal an estimated £60,000 worth of products from Boots stores across Scotland, England, and Wales.
On Thursday, 8th August, Cardiff Crown Court sentenced Dima to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 32 shoplifting offences. A deportation order has been issued, ensuring his immediate return to Romania upon his release.
PC Liam Noyce of Pontypridd Police stated, "We carefully reviewed intelligence regarding his offending and selected the day we believed he would strike in our town. Sure enough, we received the alert from Boots staff, and we were able to arrest him, bringing an end to a series of crimes committed in towns and cities throughout the UK. We recognise the crucial role that both large and small retailers play in our community and are fully committed to protecting them from criminal activity."
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