Jail for gang who stole pensioners' jewellery

A gang of Eastern European thieves who roamed Staffordshire and the Black Country, stealing jewellery from frail pensioners, were today behind bars.

The three Romanians snatched necklaces and bracelets from six people during the crime spree, including one 73-year-old who had a locket grabbed from round her neck while she sat on a mobility scooter in Stafford.

Thefts also took place in Wolverhampton, Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent before the gang was halted by an eagle-eyed policeman.

He saw a woman frantically waving at a Toyota car after having her necklace grabbed in The Crescent, Bilston, and tailed the vehicle to Culwick Street, Monmore Green, where he stopped it and arrested the three occupants.

A large quantity of jewellery was found in the car, prosecutor Mr Mark Phillips told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Less than two weeks earlier a woman, aged 81, had been robbed of her gold necklace by two women while going to vote in the local council elections at Parkfields, Wolverhampton.

A 73-year-old woman had a sovereign chain stolen from round her neck in Tettenhall High Street just days before. The £600 chain had been given to her when she was just six weeks old.

Another victim was robbed of her £180 necklace in Gloucester Street, Whitmore Reans, on April 18.

Mr Phillips said the victims were approached and had a cheap necklace or bracelet put on them.

"When they asked for it to be removed, their own jewellery was taken off with the other items. There were times when a degree of force was used. The victims were targeted because they were vulnerable and elderly," he said. Judge Amjad Nawaz added: "It does not get much worse than choosing a victim while she is sitting on her mobility scooter."

Asia Alexandru, 49 and her 23-year-old daughter-in-law Lenuta Savian admitted robbery and conspiracy to steal jewellery and were each jailed for four years.

Vasile Alexandru, 26, who acted as their driver and had only been in the country for 12 days, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and was sent to prison for two years.

All three were living in Yew Tree Road, Aston at the time of their arrest.