Burglary gang who raided homes across four counties jailed

Alexandru Dumitrescu, 35, his brother Mihail, 27, Romulus Bircea, 49, and Rolls Virag, 41, committed 15 burglary offences in Northamptonshire and a further 26 in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire between 12 October 2019 and 24 November 2019.

Operating from a property within Northamptonshire, the group primarily targeted jewellery, cash and electronics from detached houses, smashing rear windows to get inside and placing furniture in front of doors in case the victims returned home.

On one occasion, the quartet assaulted two women who disturbed one of their burglaries before making good their escape.

During the course of the investigation, officers managed to return a vast quantity of items back to their owners, some of which had high sentimental values, including items such as wedding rings, engagement rings and eternity rings.

All four offenders pleaded guilty due to the weight of evidence against them and in total they received a combined 28 years sentences between them at Cambridge Crown Court.

Bircea and Alexandru were both handed eight years in prison. Mihail was jailed for six years and eight months and Virag was sentenced to five years and four months behind bars.

Lead Investigator for Northamptonshire, PC Mark Edkins from the Burglary Team, said: “I am really pleased that this investigation has concluded with a positive result and four prolific burglars have been taken off the streets and put behind bars.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes and no one should leave their home, only to return and find their privacy invaded and their property taken.

“This group operated with no thoughts for the victims of their crimes and I hope the return of some of the property and the sentences given offer some comfort to those who were targeted.

“Northamptonshire Police will continue to be relentless in our work to reduce burglaries and bring the offenders of these crimes to justice.”