Shop Burglar Caught After Raiding John Lewis for £75k in Tech Loot
A criminal gang member behind daring break-ins at John Lewis stores in Tunbridge Wells and Ashford has finally been locked up.
High-Value Tech Stolen in Two Raids
Ionel Stoian, 51, targeted top electrical gadgets including laptops, speakers, and smartwatches during two smash-and-grab raids in 2020. The first hit on Tunbridge Wells’ Kingstanding Way store saw nearly 100 items stolen, racking up losses close to £50,000 just after 1.50am on 15 September.
The gang struck again at John Lewis in Fougeres Way, Ashford, breaking in through a window hole in the early hours of 24 October. This time, £25,000 worth of electrical goods was swiped.
Forensics and a Ford Focus Nail the Culprits
Detectives pieced together the case after spotting a black Ford Focus loitering near both stores. The car was traced back to Stoian’s home in Havant, Hampshire, and forensic tests matched his blood found on a laptop cable at the Ashford crime scene.
Stoian was arrested on 1 February 2021 alongside co-conspirator Nicusor Olteanu, 31, from Southsea. Olteanu later pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and was fined £250.
Jail Time for Organised Crime Plot
At Maidstone Crown Court, Stoian admitted two counts of burglary. On 2 August, he was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars.
Detective Constable Billie-Louise Mills said: “Stoian was part of a professional organised crime group responsible for a string of commercial burglaries in Kent and beyond. They carried tools to break in and bags to steal as much as they could. The crimes were carefully planned. There’s no doubt Stoian would have kept offending if he hadn’t been caught.”
