An Ipswich man who stole more than £50,000 worth of mobile phones and other items in a series of distraction thefts has been jailed. 

Twenty-two-year-old Gabriel Stanescu, of Ranelagh Road in the Suffolk town, appeared at Norwich Crown Court alongside 34-year-old Florin Petrache, of Great Yarmouth. 

The court heard how the pair would work together visiting business premises like beauty salons, estate agents, dental surgeries and libraries to steal mobile phones and personal belongings. 

Stanescu's role was to act as a driver while Petrache stole the items. 

Gabriel Stanescu of Ranelagh Road in IpswichGabriel Stanescu, of Ranelagh Road in Ipswich (Image: Norfolk police)

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The pair were arrested on March 12 of this year on the A149 between North Walsham and Cromer after a victim was able to supply a registration for a green Lexus believed to be involved in a mobile phone theft. 

They were found with a number of handsets matching those reported stolen that day, as well as several others. 

Further investigations across multiple police forces linked Stanescu and Petrache to a series of other thefts in February and March. 

Petrache was also linked to a similar spree in October 2020 but Stanescu denied being involved, stating he was in Romania at the time of the incidents.

Florin Petrache was also jailedFlorin Petrache was also jailed (Image: Norfolk police)

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While in custody they worked with Operation Converter and admitted to a further 58 similar offences between them.

In total the pair had stolen more than £50,000 worth of mobile phones, bank cards and cash during multiple thefts across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and the Thames Valley area. 

Stanescu was jailed for 21 months after admitting to six offences and asking for 27 others to be taken into consideration.

Petrache was sentenced to two years behind bars.

Staff supervisor for Operation Converter Duncan Etchells said: "Petrache and Stanescu were prolific offenders who locked onto the fact most unsuspecting people have their phones close to them at work as they go about their daily business."