International pickpocket gang sentenced for string of thefts in Birmingham city centre
A gang of thieves have been sentenced for several pickpocketing offences around Birmingham city centre.
Florin Adir, aged 21 and from Wembley; Esmeralda Negut, aged 20 and from Burton; and Vasile Curti, aged 18, were all caught by dedicated pickpocketing officers from the West Midlands Police city centre Taurus team.
The officers had been investigating a series of reported thefts and caught the group red-handed as they targeted unsuspecting shoppers in Birmingham city centre.
CCTV footage showed the group following people around the city, working together to steal cash and mobile phones.
Two of them would act as lookouts while the third would steal the items from their victims' persons.
Working with security staff at The Bullring on February 21, police officers spotted the group on live CCTV cameras.
Officers then closed in on the group as they tried to steal from four different people, with the thieves running off when they saw officers approaching.
Despite trying to escape, Adir, Negut and Curti were all caught and later charged with six theft offences dating back to November 2024.
They admitted the offences in court, but claimed they were not 'professional' pickpockets and only turned to crime out of desperation.
But officers contacted other police groups from around Europe and found that the thieves had several international convictions for pickpocketing.
On April 3 at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Florin Adir was sentenced to six months in prison.
Vasile Curti, who was 17 at the time of the offences, was handed a six-month youth federal order.
On Tuesday, June 17, Esmeralda Negut was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
The group have also been ordered to pay more than £3,000 in compensation and victim surcharges for their crimes.
PC Mat Evans QPM, from Operation Taurus, said: "I hope this sentencing serves as a message to any pickpockets thinking of coming to Birmingham – whatever you do, don’t.
“We have one of the best teams in the country looking out for you, and we know the tactics you are using. This is a reminder to all of us of how criminals operate, and how to protect ourselves and keep our belongings safe."
