International pickpocket gang sentenced for thefts in Birmingham
The group has also been ordered to pay more than £3,000 in compensation and victim surcharges for their crimes
A gang of thieves have been jailed for a string of 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 and from Wembley, were all caught by dedicated pickpocketing officers from West Midlands Police's city centre Taurus team.
The officers had been investigating a series of thefts, and caught the group as they targeted 'unsuspecting' shoppers.
CCTV showed the group following people around the city, working together to steal cash and mobile phones from them.
Police said two would act as lookouts while the third reached around victims to steal the items.
Working with security partners at The Bullring on Friday 21 February, officers were reviewing footage of the group from the previous day, when they spotted the group on live CCTV cameras.
City centre officers closed in as the group tried to steal from four different people, running off when they saw the officers approaching.
Despite trying to escape, Adir, Negut, and Curti were caught and later charged with six theft offences, dating back to November 2024.
They admitted their crimes in court but claimed they were not “professional” pickpockets and only turned to crime out of desperation.
This proved to be false though, with the group having several international convictions for pickpocketing.
On 3 April 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 referral order.
On Tuesday (17 June), 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.
Following the sentencings, 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.”