Tunnel-digging gang jailed for London jewellery shop burglary attempt

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 19:57 · Archive

Three men were jailed after attempting to tunnel into a jewellery shop in south London in July.

Three members of an organised crime gang were jailed after being caught attempting to tunnel into a jewellery shop on Mitcham Road in Tooting on 17 July at 3.12am. The gang was linked to burglaries worth more than £700,000 across London between May and July. Police discovered the men had broken into a massage parlour and were tunnelling through a wall to access the neighbouring jeweller's shop, with tools and equipment found at the scene.

Laurentiu-Daniel Nitisoara, 38, was arrested in a nearby alleyway, while Ioan Asafeti, 39, was found hiding on a rooftop. Sergiu Plastin, 42, was arrested later that day at Stansted Airport after being tracked via mobile phone data whilst attempting to flee the country on a flight to Ireland. Enquiries through Interpol found the group had possible links to similar offences in Europe.

The three appeared at Kingston Crown Court and admitted charges of conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and cause criminal damage. Asafeti was jailed for four years and ten months, Plastin for three years and four months, and Nitisoara for two years.

How it is being reported

• Gang jailed after being caught tunnelling in to jewellery shopMembers of an organised crime group were caught digging into a jewellery store.Metro · 23 Oct, 19:38
• Tunnel-digging gang jailed after Met busts London jewellery shop break-in attemptThe gang was linked to a series of burglaries worth more than £700,000Evening Standard · 23 Oct, 16:02

In this story: Laurentiu-Daniel Nitisoara · Ioan Asafeti · Sergiu Plastin · Metropolitan Police · London · Tooting · Kingston Crown Court

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