Ilford woman who admitted handling items stolen during 16-day Kent crime spree handed suspended sentence

A 25-year-old Ilford woman has avoided jail after admitting she looked after items that had been stolen from homes in Kent by a pair of prolific burglars.

Alina-Lacramida Zbircea, 25, of Ley Street, was given a six month sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work on Wednesday, October 11, after she pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to handling stolen goods.

Zbircea was arrested on January 31 after 11 homes in Rainham and Twydall, both in Kent, were burgled in a 16-day crime spree from January 12 to January 28.

Marius Eheorghe and Vasile Nicusor, both 27 and of no fixed address, were jailed for three years after both pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle.

Another man, Vasilica Radu, 43, of no fixed address, received a nine month sentence after he also admitted handling the stolen goods.

As part of the investigation officers from Kent Police found mobile phone evidence linking all four of the suspects to the crimes, as well as stolen items of jewellery and receipts from pawn shops where they had exchanged stolen jewellery for cash.

Investigating officer, Det Con Glenn Blanchard, said: “I’m pleased that both Marius Eheorghe and Vasile Nicusor have received lengthy sentences for these crimes as they were prolific and I’m confident they would have carried on their criminality had they not been arrested.

“Kent Police takes all reports of crime seriously and will act swiftly and this is a great example of the good work carried out by a number of officers who helped to put an end to this group’s criminality.”